210 DIFFERENT CREEDS OF FOULTK\. 



were very few, and several even of these died, tlie "breed 

 being delicate : and the owner of what was the chief stock 

 for many years seemed to care more for having something 

 which no one else had, than for saving the breed, which might 

 have been done by spreading it amongst a few other hands. 

 A.t best it was rather sterile. Good results were got by breeding 

 Pekin cocks to some other breeds and breeding back ; and 

 it is much to be desired that this most characteristic, of all the 

 Bantam races should be preserved, if it is even yet possible to 

 do so. We were glad to hear that one new importation was 

 made in 1884. 



JAPANESE. Several strains of Bantams have been imported 

 from Japan. All agree in being exceedingly short-legged, and 

 most have very upright tails. Some are cuckoo colour and 

 feather-legged; but what is usually known as the Japanese 

 Bantam has short, clear legs, a white body, and a very upright 

 or squirrel tail, the sickles, or rather scimitar feathers, being 

 dense bronze black with a sharp white edging. The combs are 

 single and upright. 



We have seen Andalusian Bantams, and a fair approach to 

 a Dark Brahma Bantam ; and the field is open for any dwarf 

 breed at any time. 



GAME BANTAMS. In Game Bantams the plumage is precisely 

 similar to the corresponding varieties of the Game fowl, from 

 which they were undoubtedly obtained by long interbreeding, 

 and continually selecting the smallest specimens, occasionally, 

 perhaps, crossing with a Bantam to expedite the process. The 

 carriage and form must also be similar, and the drooping wing, 

 so common in other Bantams, would infallibly disqualify a pen 

 of Game. 



In courage and u bottom " Game Bantams are not behind 

 their larger relatives. In constitution they are the hardiest of 

 all Bantam breeds. 



Black -reds, Duck wings, P-rown-reds, and Piles are all 



