STANDARD CLASSIFICATION 



77 



intermingling is very noticeable in the Cornish Games of to-day. 

 They are often spoken of as " Cornish Indian Games." 



10. Ornamental Bantams. — This class is represented by five 

 breeds and many varieties. They are entirely ornamental, and 

 are bred for pleasure and fancy. They do, however, possess some 

 desirable poultry qualities. Many of them are egg layers, and 

 the Cochin Bantam hens are profitable when used to hatch the 

 eggs of pheasants and other small fowls. 



In this group the Brahma and the Cochin Bantams are the 

 exact image of the standard-size birds of the same name. 



The Rose-comb Bantams are prototypes of the Hamburgs. 



Sebright Bantams are said to have originated in England after 

 a great many years of careful breeding, and they are one of the 

 most remarkable poultry 

 breeds in the points of sex 

 similarity and diminutive 

 size. 



The Polish Bantams 

 closely resemble the large 

 Polish breed. 



The Japanese Bantams 

 are curiosities from the fact 

 that' they have exceedingly 

 short legs in proportion to 

 size of body. The male bird 

 is odd in having sword- 

 shaped sickles, carried ver- 

 tically (Fig. 46). 



11. Miscellaneous. — 



Three breeds which cannot well be placed in any other class are 

 included here. It may be said they are freaks in certain character- 

 istics. The Silkies derived their name from the peculiar formation 

 of their plumage. Their feathers are webless and of a silky texture. 

 This characteristic makes the breed interesting, since this feature 

 is not possessed by any other standard variety. The face is purple 

 and prominent, the back broad, legs short and feathered, and the 

 body profusely feathered. Silkies are kept in this country more 

 for fancy stock than for any utility value which they possess. 



The Sultans are less common than the Silkies. They have 

 coarse muff and beard, vulture-like hock, and very abundant 

 shank and toe feathering. 



Fig. 46. — Black-tailed White Japanese Bantama 

 — remarkable for their short legs. (Photo by 

 Urban Farms, Buffalo, N. Y.) 



