320 THE SMOOTH-LEGGED BANTAM. 



For instance, one October she brought home seven little viva- 

 cious balls of down, that certainly would not have had to en- 

 counter the dead months of autumn and winter, had any 

 other opinion than their mother's been consulted. 



The browner variety of this bird is sometimes called the 

 Partridge Bantam : such are almost minatures of the Golden 

 Hamburgh Fowls, both Pencilled and Spangled. There is 

 the same double comb, pointed behind, the same blue legs and 

 characteristics of form and plumage. But it would be wrong 

 to conclude from these resemblances that it is a dwarfed 

 Hamburgh Fowl ; all we can say is, that this bird represents 

 (as some naturalists express it) the Hamburghs among the 

 Bantams ; just as many birds of one Continent are found re- 

 presented in another by corresponding, though quite distinct 

 species of the same genus. 



THE SEBRIGHT BANTAM has very much thrown the pre- 

 ceding into the shade. Their beauty is of a different class, 

 but it is questionable whether their merits are greater. Here 

 we have delicate pencilling in the shape of brilliant colouring. 

 How and whence they first appeared in England is a mystery, 

 and likely to remain so. Sir J. S. Sebright has the credit of 

 having " originated" the breed, a reputation which we believe 

 to be as well deserved as that he " originated" the creation of 

 the feathered race in general. Those in his confidence were 

 accustomed to report that he would travel, " or send," as far 

 as two or three hundred miles to obtain a choice bird, which 

 was doubtless true ; but had they added many thousands of 

 miles to the two or three hundred in the " sending" part of 

 the story, they would, we believe, have been still nearer to the 

 truth. That Sir John treated his birds, when procured, with 

 jealous care and skilful nurture, will be readily granted. But 

 while breeders continue to be so anxious, not merely to conceal 

 their system of management, (in the earliest stages at least,) but 

 even to mislead inquirers, those who cultivate natural history 



