126 Bantams. 



perfection by Sir John Sebright, after whom they are 

 named. The attitude of the cock is singularly bold and 

 prond, the head being often thrown so much back as to 

 meet the tail feathers, which are simple like those of a hen, 

 the ordinary sickle-like feathers being abbreviated and 

 broad. The Gold-laced Sebright Bantams should have 

 golden brownish-yellow plumage, each feather being bor- 

 dered with a lacing of black ; the tail square like that of 

 the hen, without sickle feathers, and carried well over the 

 back, each feather being tipped with black, a rose-comb 

 pointed at the back, the Avings drooping to the ground, 

 neither saddle nor neck hackles, clean lead-coloured legs 

 and feet, and w^hite ear-lobes ; and the hen should corres- 

 pond exactly with him, but be much smaller. The Silver- 

 laced birds have exactly the same points except in the 

 ground feathering, which should be silvery, and the nearer 

 the shade approaches to white the more beautiful will be 

 the bird. Their carriage should resemble that of a good 

 Fantail pigeon. 



The Black Bantams should be uniform in colour, with 

 well-developed Avhite ear-lobes, rose-combs, full hackles, 

 sickled and flowing tail, and deep slate-coloured legs. The 

 White Banta:\i.>< should have white legs and beak. Both 

 should Ije of tiny size. 



The Nankin, or Common Yellow Bantam, is probably 

 the nearest approach to the original type of the flimily — 

 the " Bankiva fowl." The cock " has a large proportion 

 of red and dark chestnut on the ])ody, with a full black 

 tail ; Avhile the hen is a pale orange yellow, with a tail 

 tipped with black, and the hackle lightly pencilled with 

 the same colour, and clean legs. Combs vary, but the rose 

 is decidedly preferable. True-bred specimens of these 

 birds being by no means common, considerable deviations 

 from the above description may consequently l^e expected 

 in birds passing under this appellation." 



The Booted Bantams have their legs plumed to the toes, 

 not on one side only like Cochin-Chinas, but completely on 

 both, with stiff, long feathers, which brush the ground. 

 The most beautiful specimens are of a pure white. 



