FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 

181 

(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
BREEDING TO THE STANDARD. 
Mr. Epiror. 
As poultry breeding has to meet the Convention’s Standard 
to receive the judges’ favorable awards, it becomes question- 
able whether every one now attempting to breed to fancy 
points is prepared to do it; and in view of that hypothesis, 
I would intimate a system which might obtain to the ad- 
vantage of all concerned. If, for example, the many who 
are now attempting to breed to points from cheap birds, or 
from eggs purchased from an injudicious breeder (premising 
all the while that in both instances the purchases were made 
from pure-bred stock), should, instead of breeding from 
fowls of their own mating, buy each season eggs from relia- 
ble and judicious fanciers, who, from means and position, 
could devote their entire time to the scientific breeding of 
’ high classed stock, such asystem would enable the breeders 
to devote more time and money to the subject, because their 
customers would be more numerous, and consequently their 
profits greater, and to the buyers of eggs the results would 
still be greater: in this, that their stock would be unques- 
tionably nearer to standard requisites, and consequently 
would bring better prices. Furthermore, the annual pur- 
chaser of eggs would not have the trouble and expense of 
keeping breeding stock. In that case a few common hens 
for sitting would be all that would be necessary to keep over 
winter; consequently a much less expensive preparation 
would be needed to raise the fancy breeds in the coming 
spring. This plan would enable any fancier to stock his 
summer lawns with the various breeds of poultry which 
have so beautifully adorned the show-pens at all the great 
exhibitions of the land, which of late years have attracted 
so large a share of popular interest. 
This plan would also enable one to go through with the 
whole catalogue of improved poultry in a few years, thereby 
familiarizing himself and family with all the feathered tribes 
of domestic attainment. Via Mor: 

eo 
JACK RABBIT CHASE IN TEXAS. 
THE PRAIRIE SPORT THAT PRECEDED A BALL IN 
GONZALES. 
AmonG the finest sports of Texas, a correspondent says, 
are the rabbit chases. Don’t imagine an ordinary rabbit 
hunt. The rabbit of Texas is in reality a hare, similar in 
size and proportion to the English hare. It is known in 
Texas as the mule-eared or jackass rabbit. It is so named 
from the length of its ears, which measure from five to six 
inches. The length of the animal from the tip of the nose 
to the end of the tail is three feet when fully grown; color, 
grayish brown; fore legs short and slender, hind legs and 
quarters long, fully developed, and symmetrically propor- 
tioned, indicating great strength and fleetness. Its ears are 
long and pendant, but capable of being erected; hence the 
name of mule-eared rabbit. It is not a mischievous animal 
like the swamp rabbit, which commits depredations on gar- 
dens and fruit trees. It feeds on the prairie grass and 
drinks no water except the dews of rain drops. It does 
not burrow, but makes a nest in the grass for its young. Its 
flesh is so tough and sinewy that it is not fit for food, but is 
hunted only for sport. 
A stranger is almost certain to be invited to a_.rabbit 
chase soon after his arrival, especially if his dress and air 
indicate to the Texan that he is from the Eastern States. 



On my arrival in southwestern Texas, I put up in the only 
hotel of the little village of Gonzales, on the Guadaloupe river. 
After a good square meal of Texan fare, consisting of beef- 
steak, hominy, corn bread, and coffee, and just as I was fin- 
ishing my cigar, I heard a familiar voice, and turned to 
greet an old acquaintance who moved to Texas some years 
ago. Before the evening was over it was arranged for me 
to join in a rabbit chase the next day. ‘ But,’’ said my 
friend, ‘*can you ride a mustang ?”’ : 
‘« I guess so, unless he is much harder to ride than a thor- 
oughbred.”’ ; 
‘‘ Not much. Be ready, booted and spurred, to mount to- 
morrow at eight. Your’mustang will be ready for you. I 
will call and we’ll gallop over to the Squire’s, the place of 
rendezvous. You shall have the prettiest girl and the bold- 
est lady rider for your companion in the hunt. Good-night 
and pleasant dreams.”’ 
Anticipating the appointed time by a few minutes, Bob 
was on the ground the next morning with the mustang. 
We galloped over to the Squire’s, about two miles from the 
village in the prairie. His pretty daughter Helen cheer- 
fully accepted Bob’s friend for an escort. She was well 
mounted, and sat with ease and grace. While we conversed, 
other members of the party came in by twos and fours from 
all points up the prairie, making for the central point, the 
Squire’s. Ina short time a company of about twenty ladies 
and gentlemen, or about a dozen couples had arrived, eti- 
quette requiring each gentleman to bring a lady. Most 
of the party were mounted on mustangs. A few rode splen- 
did hunters, bred from imported stock. The ladies wore 
dark habits or skirts, and stylish caps, ornamented with a 
jaunty white feather. They were evidently at home in the 
saddle, and more graceful riders I never saw. The gentle- 
men were in every kind of costume, from a hunting jacket 
to a blouse, and one wearing a Mexican ranchero’s buck- 
skin suit and sombrero, bore himself more proudly than all 
the rest. 
The sounding of a horn in the distance threw the party 
into the wildest excitement. ‘‘ There comes Roving Bill, 
our hunter,’”’ said Bob, and soon a wild Western ranger 
dashed in among us, followed by a dozen or more splendid 
English greyhounds and two black-and-tan beagles, or, as 
they are termed in the South, deer hounds. His long black 
hair floated from under a slouched hat, and he was fully 
equipped with the formidable six-shooter and bowie knife, 
the indispensible companions of the border Texan. He 
was welcomed with a shout, which he returned with, “ are 
you all ready for the hunt?” “All ready,’’ was the reply. 
Then “forward ’’ was the command, and we dashed gaily 
over the prairie for several miles, riding in couples, that 
seemed to enjoy the chance for a flirtation as much as the 
exercise, 
We galloped on two or three miles. Then our Master of 
the Chase ordered a halt, and conversation and flirtation 
ceased. Disposing his company in groups (in which posi- 
tion we were to remain until the game was up), he galloped 
here and there over the plain in our front, while the intelli- 
gent dogs dispersed themselves, waiting for the bugles to 
start the game. 
Up sprang a rabbit directly in our front, and bounded off 
a few paces. Halting, it raised itself straight upon its 
haunches, surveyed the scene a moment with its bright 
black eyes, erected its long quivering ears, and then, with 
lightning speed, it darted with long bounds over the prairie, 
