208 DIFFERENT BIIKEDS OF 1 POULTRY. 



There are two varieties. In the gold-laced the ground 

 colour is a rich golden yellow. In the silver-laced, a pure 

 white. In both cases the ground must .be perfectly clear and 

 unsullied, varied only by the clear black line round each 

 feather, which constitutes the lacing. (See plate of " Feathers,'' 

 No. 2.) 



These remarks apply to the original strain, and those on 

 colour of comb, face, and ears, still apply to the Golds. For 

 many years, however, breeders used to cross their Silver with 

 Golden, and the result was that the silver ground became 

 yellower and yellower, until the so-called " Silvers " hardly ever 

 won in competition with good Golds. Just as matters came to 

 this pass, :an entirely new strain of Silvers of dazzling whiteness 

 and dense black lacing burst upon the scene from Scotland, 

 and carried all before them. How they were bred has never 

 yet been divulged ; but their combs were bright red, the ears 

 fairly white, and though the hen-tail was good, the carriage of 

 the cocks is far less strutting than that of the old strain. 

 The superiority of this new Silver strain has now, unfortunately, 

 in its turn all but extinguished the Golden Sebright. 



BLACK. This is one of the most popular Bantam classes. 

 The plumage is a uniform black, with no trace of rust, or any 

 other colour, and in the cock, with a bright lustre like that of 

 the Spanish fowl. Tail of the cock full and well arched ; legs 

 short, dark blue or black in colour, and perfectly clean. Comb 

 a bright red rose. Ear-lobes white; face red; in brief, the 

 bird should resemble a miniature Black Hamburgh, Cock 

 not to exceed twenty, hen eighteen ounces. 



Black feather-legged Bantams have now and then been 

 shown, but never established a footing. Fashion changes, 

 however ; and novelties being now much sought after, we are 

 inclined to believe that a good feather-legged black breed would 

 speedily became a favourite. We have seen them with the 

 foot-feather as long as their bodies. 



