THE DOMESTIC FOWL. 71 



there is in them, than in those of the turkey. Black 

 Bantam's eggs are smooth, tinged with buff, decidedly 

 long-oval in most individuals, and with a zone of irregu- 

 larity towards the smaller end in some. 



The new-hatched chicks are covered with black 

 down, which occasionally has a greyish cast under the 

 belly ; bill, eyes, feet and legs black. The female 

 chicks are not bigger than the queen of the black and 

 yellow humble bees, and their slender, little legs appear 

 fitter to belong to an insect than a chicken. 



When brought up by their own mother, a spent 

 cucumber frame covered with a net, is a good place to 

 keep them the first month. The hottest and finest part 

 of the season should be selected for them to pass their 

 chickenhood in. When full grown and plumed, they are 

 not more tender than other poultry, though they are 

 better suited for confinement in yards. 



Those who keep any other variety of domestic fowl, 

 and are desirous of having plenty of chickens as well as 

 eggs, had better not permit a black Bantam cock to 

 enter upon their premises. 



The White Bantam very much resembles the one pre- 

 ceding in every respect except color ; the rose comb may 

 perhaps in some specimens be a little more exuberant. 

 But they are not much to be coveted. The white of 

 their plumage is not brilliant, and is sure to be un-neat 

 in the places where they are usually kept. Were they 

 really guilty of the savage, objectless, and unnatural 

 ferocity that is attributed to them, they would all de- 

 serve to have their necks wrung ; but the tale wants 

 confirmation. 



Creepers, so called from the shortness of their legs, 

 and Jumpers, from their halting gait, are rather to be 

 considered as accidental deformities collected from un- 

 healthy families of Bantams, than as constituting any 

 distinct variety. A sufficient proof of which is, that 

 many of them are scarcely able to propagate their kind. 

 Some of these are the very smallest of their genus, being 

 not larger than pigeons, and not so tall. They are now 

 much out of fashion, and are rarely seen. They were 





