THE bantam: fowl. 



265 



■w'nh brilliant, reddish tinged eyes, by some termed ferret-eyed; singl* 

 or double-comb, in 

 both sexes; a 

 graceful neck, 

 rather short than 

 !ong ; wide, deep, 

 projecting breast; 

 the body is not 

 cnly long, but 

 round, nither than 

 fiat or square; and 

 the legs, consider- 

 ing their size, short, 

 and invariably of a 

 silver white." The 

 Dorking is very 

 hardy, and its 

 young are easily 

 reared ; both of 

 which are very 

 important recom- 

 mendations f o r 

 fowls in the North- 

 ern and Eastern 

 States. When 

 crossed with other 

 birds they invari- 

 ably improve the 

 form, and the quality of the meat. 



These birds have been long prized, and it is now many years since 

 fcheir superiority over our ojxlinary domestic varieties, was discovere<l 

 and appreciated. They were first noticed and the variety adopted by 

 jhe Cumberland breeders, whence they were carried into Lancashire 

 md Westmoreland, and gradually spread over all England. They 

 xre also found in many parts of Ireland, Whether, however, it is the 

 result of injudicious treatment, imperfect feeding, or change of cli- 

 mate, when met with far from the region where they originated, tbey 

 appear to have lost much of their superiority. 



.,^^^^5?^^^- 



OOPKICW FOWL. 



THE BANTAM FOWL. 



This beautiful little domestic bird came originally from the pro 

 vince of Bantam, in Java. In this country, we have every kiiid of 

 oolor and comparative size of "Bantam," but in their j»«ri^?/, the "Sir 

 John Seabright," "the Java," or the "African" varieties, are rare 

 birds. "This bird," says Richardson, "has its legs perfectly nako-i to 

 the toes, and approaches in form more nearly to the game breed, 'i'lie 

 high bred cock of this breed should have a rose comb, full hackles 

 a well-ieathered and well-carried tail, a- stately and courageous 



