540 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



be done by careful breeding that could be found within the pages of this work. So entirely is 

 every feature the result of art, and so well did Sir John Sebright (known as a skillful breeder 

 of Shorthorns and other animals, as well as of poultry) keep his secret as to the process of 

 manufacture, that for a long period the most erroneous and contradictory accounts are current 

 as to the origin of these beautiful breeds, some affirming that they had been imported from 

 the East. After the death of the right honorable baronet, however, truer accounts obtained 

 from various members of the family, began to appear; and in the Journal of Horticulture for 

 1865, was published the fullest and most detailed account of the matter we have yet seen, as 

 follows: It was about the year 1800 that the late Sir John Sebright first began to fashion 

 the Sebright Bantam. The cross was between some common Bantams and Polish fowls. 

 These were bred in-and-in until the required marking and size were secured. 



Sir John then accidentally found a short-tailed Bantam cock in the country where he 

 v/as traveling. This short-tailed bird he in-bred with his newly-manufactured Bantams, 

 thereby giving their progeny the present form of the short tail. In the Poultry Chronicle it 

 is stated that Sir John obtained a buff-colored Bantam hen; she was very small indeed, with 

 clean slate-colored legs. On the same journey he purchased a cock rather inclined to red in 

 color, destitute of sickle feathers, and a hen-like hackle; and also a small hen resembling a 

 Hamburg. He afterwards had a white cockerel from the Zoological Gardens, by which he 

 made his Silvers. This description of the origin refers back before the laced marking was 

 achieved. They were then known as Pheasant Bantams. These birds generally have a rare 

 comb, that is, square in front, and terminating in a spike behind; the ear lobes are white; the 

 wattles bright red, the neck is well arched, and the head carried well back, giving a very 

 pompous, strutting carriage to the body; the breast is full and prominent; the wings carried 

 quite low, the ends nearly touching the ground ; the tail is entirely free from sickle feathers, 

 similar to that of the hen; it is square and expanded, the feathers being broadest towards 

 the ends. The hackle feathers of the cock are similar to that of the hen, as is also the entire 

 plumage, being quite compact and close. The beak and legs are dark, the latter free from 

 feathers and a slate blue color. 



The entire plumage, including the feathers of the wings and tail, is a rich golden 

 yellow, each feather distinctly and evenly bordered or laced all around with a narrow edge 

 of black, which makes a most beautiful plumage; while their sprightly and pompous ways, 

 their tame and familiar manner makes them very pretty pets. The great drawback to this 

 breed is the failure in hatching, often only a small number of chicks being produced from a 

 large number of eggs. They produce a large number of eggs, however, and are considered 

 quite as hardy as the average Bantam varieties. The young chicks should not be overfed, 

 many being killed by too great kindness in this respect. They should be fed at first with 

 custard, oatmeal, boiled eggs chopped fine, boiled rice, and curd made by scalding loppered 

 milk and draining off the whey; though they should be fed very sparingly of the boiled 

 eggs for the first few days, it being rather strong food for them when first hatched. For 

 this beautiful bird, originated in England more than eighty years since, great credit is due 

 Sir John Sebright. He has not only given us a bird of exquisite beauty and form, size, and 

 color, but has shown the world what the breeder may accomplish by patient perseverance 

 and skill. 



Silver Sebright Bantams. This variety is precisely like the Golden Sebrights, 

 previously described, in all respects except color of plumage; that being a rich golden yellow, 

 with each feather laced with a narrow border of black, and this in plumage, being a silvery 

 white with each feather even and distinctly bordered with a narrow edge of black, as shown 

 in the cut, which represents birds bred by Mr. Gamerdinger of Columbus, Ohio, even the 

 wings and tail feathers should have this peculiar marking, which is extremely beautiful in 

 effect. The beak and legs are dark as in the G6lden variety. The feathering of each is 



