examination of those previously marked takes place: those in which no
defect can be found receive a second mark, and the rest are condemned. A
few months afterwards a third and last scrutiny is made; the prime rams and
ewes receive a third and final mark, but the slightest blemish is
sufficient to cause the rejection of the animal." These sheep are bred and
valued almost exclusively for the fineness of their wool; and the result
corresponds with the labour bestowed on their selection. Instruments have
been invented to measure accurately the thickness of the fibres; and "an
Austrian fleece has been produced of which twelve hairs equalled in
thickness one from a Leicester sheep."

Throughout the world, wherever silk is produced, the greatest care is
bestowed on selecting the cocoons from which the moths for breeding are to
be reared. A careful cultivator[455] likewise examines the moths
themselves, and destroys those that are not perfect. But what more
immediately concerns us is that certain families in France devote
themselves to raising eggs for sale.[456] In China, near Shanghai, the
inhabitants of two small districts have the privilege of raising eggs for
the whole surrounding country, and that they may give up their whole time
to this business, they are interdicted by law from producing silk.[457]

The care which successful breeders take in matching their birds is
surprising. Sir John Sebright, whose fame is perpetuated by the "Sebright
Bantam," used to spend "two and three days in examining, consulting, and
disputing with a friend which were the best of five or six birds."[458] Mr.
Bult, whose pouter-pigeons won so many prizes and were exported to North
America under the charge of a man sent on purpose, told me that he always
deliberated for several days before he matched each pair. Hence we can
understand the advice of an eminent fancier, who writes,[459] "I would here
particularly guard {198} you against having too great a variety of pigeons,
otherwise you will know a little of all, but nothing about one as it ought
to be known." Apparently it transcends the power of the human intellect to
breed all kinds: "it is possible that there may be a few fanciers that have
a good general knowledge of fancy pigeons; but there are many more who
labour under the delusion of supposing they know what they do not." The
excellence of one sub-variety, the Almond Tumbler, lies in the plumage,
carriage, head, beak, and eye; but it