It is a singular fact, that by continually selecting cocks
with wings perfectly clear from brown, a tendency was for
a long time always developed to increase the brown, thus
producing the very thing so carefully shunned. The
brown so developed in the cockerels was however very
different from that in the darker strains, being of a dead or
rusty tinge, and often stained or mingled with white. This
fault also was, however, vanquished by patience and care,
and for several |6easons past we have succeeded in breeding
cocks perfectly clear in the wing, yet of the most intense
colour, and unexceptionable breeding qualities.
In breeding for the dense, very dark pencillings, as well as
for the preceding colour, a cock should be selected with the
stripes at base of the hackle a- "particularly dense black, and
the saddle also well striped. Particular attention should
be given to the shafts of the feathers, both in hackle and
saddle, and if they be very white the bird should be rejected.
Indeed, this precaution is necessary in breeding for any
colour; but most of all in this, because the dark colour ot



112 The Brahma Fowl. [Chap. IV.
the pullets will make any streakiness more conspicuous.
