68 THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 



cellent mothers, particularly for such delicate things as 

 Guinea fowls. 



The Sebright Bantam has very much thrown the 

 preceding into the shade. Their beauty is of a differ- 

 ent class, but it is questionable whether their merits are 

 greater. Here we have delicate pencilling in the shape 

 of brilliant coloring. How and whence they first ap- 

 peared in England is a mystery and likely to remain so. 

 Sir J. S. Sebright has the credit of having "originated" 

 the breed, a reputation believed to be as well deserved 

 as that he "originated" the creation of the feathered 

 race in general. Those in his confidence were accus- 

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

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



SEBRIGHT BANTAMS. 



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 nature will be readily granted. But while breed- 

 ers continue to be so anxious, not merely to conceal 

 their system of management, (in the earliest stages at 



