104 



THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



DUWVAGE DEL 



MABSH Sjf 



THE AFRICAN BANTAM. 



This plate represents a pair of beautiful fowls of a variety 

 which is denominated by Mr. Giles, of Providence, the African 

 Bantam. These individuals are from Mr. Giles' stock. The 

 cock is red upon the neck, back and hackles ; tail, black and 

 erect, studded with glossy green feathers upon the sides ; 

 breast, black ground, spotted with yellow, like the Golden 

 Pheasant ; comb, single ; cheeks, white or silvery ; the pullet 

 is entirely black, excepting the inside of the wing- tips, which 

 is perfectly white. In size, they compare with the common 

 pigeon, being very small ; and their wings are about two inches 

 longer than their bodies, their legs dark and destitute of feath- 

 ers. They are very quiet, and of decided benefit in gardens, 

 in destroying bugs. It would be difficult to find a more sym- 

 metrically formed bird. They are highly prized, both by the 

 fancier and utilitarian, and the pure bloods are very rare. 

 They are the best of all the Bantam race, yet I have never seen 

 them described in the books on ornithology. 



These fowls weigh from eight to twelve ounces each for the 

 hens, and the cocks from sixteen to twenty ounces. Mr. Giles 



