496 



THE BOOK OF POULTRY. 



statements it appears that they are known in 

 Japan as Shinowaratao, Shirifuzi, or Saka- 

 watao fowls, and by other various names. The 

 very long-tailed ones are kept in high, narrow 

 cages, always sitting on a perch covered with 

 straw rope, with no room to turn or get down, 

 but with a food and water tin at each end of 

 the perch. Three times daily they are lifted 

 down for a few minutes' exercise, their tails 

 being carefully rolled up and enclosed in paper 

 cases to keep them from injury. The Japanese 

 state that a tail has been measured 2^ feet in 

 length, and that the birds only moult the tail 



Duckwing Yokohama Cock " Mikado." 



The property of Mrs. S. R. Masters. First and Medal, Crystal 



Palace, 1910, 



once in three years. This last fact is highly 

 interesting. It is obvious that if a tail 23 feet 

 long were grown in one year, it must be at 

 the rate of nearly three-quarters of an inch 

 per day ; and though Madame Bodinus states 

 that she could " see the tails grow daily," it is 

 difficult to realise this. 



Tails exceeding 6 feet in length have, how- 

 ever, never reached Europe, the saddle-hackles 

 of Mr. Waller's birds having been about 

 16 inches ; and in Japan itself tails over 6 feet 

 are exceedingly rare. But the stock has had 



to be further crossed to prevent extinction. 

 Nearly all that on the Continent was indubit- 

 ably crossed with English Game, and from this 

 the present known stock has been derived. By 

 this somewhat has been lost in mere length of 

 feather, but much has been gained in hardiness 

 and real beauty. 



Many names, have been proposed. The 

 Germans were mainly answerable for 

 "Phoenix," which has no meaning; and 

 " Japanese Long-tails " was too general. Some 

 attempt was macle to get Shinowaratao recog- 

 nised, but to the appellation of " Yokohamas " 

 the breed has now fairly settled down. We 

 are indebted for the following notes upon it 

 to Mr. Frank E. Rice, of Sudbury, Suffolk, 

 who has kept and bred it for some years: — 



" To speak or write adequately on the 

 beauty of Yokohamas (sometimes called Long- 

 tailed Phoenix or Japanese Long-tails) is 

 beyond the power of tongue or pen. They 

 rank above all otlier breeds of poultry in their 

 highly graceful character, and the beautiful 

 formation of the tail, which is their special 

 characteristic. The long sickle-feathers grow 

 about 2 feet the hrst year, and each moult they 

 come out longer, till the tails reach 5 feet and 

 sometimes 6 feet in length. It is not altogether 

 the length, but also the sprightly way in 

 which they carry their tails : not in a droop- 

 ing, dangling fashion, but in a most graceful 

 curve from the formation which carries the 

 weight, which adds perfect symmetry to an 

 evenly balanced tail. 



" The feathers should be broad and strong, 

 except the hangers, whicli are soft and flowing, 

 the saddle feathers hanging to the ground in 

 great abundance. The wings, which are very 

 long, are carried close up. The head should 

 be neat and small, with evenly set pea comb, 

 and the neck should have a great abundance 

 of hackle feathers. Legs are medium length, 

 of a bluish willow colour, and should have 

 only four toes. In all respects the Yokohama 

 should be a long-made bird, with long neck, 

 long body, and long tail. 



" There are several colours ; those best 

 known are the Duckwing colour and pure 

 white, the former being the most attractive. 

 At present all are exceedingly rare. The 

 sickle feathers are used as plumes in officers' 

 helmets and ladies' headgear, as in the former 

 coloured birds they are of a most beautiful 

 lustrous black. 



" Notwithstanding their beauty, Yokohamas 

 are very hardy and easy to rear. Chickens 

 should be hatched in March, April, May, and 

 June, to grow to maturity, as I have found 



