REARING BANTAMS. 211 



shown. At one time the Black-reds were far the best, but the 

 others rre now fully equal to them ; and in all the colours, the 

 long legs and stylish carriage are now attained as fully as in 

 the larger Game, there being no shortening in any respect 



Bantam chickens require a little more animal food than 

 other fowls, and, for a week or two, rather extra care to keep 

 them dry. After that they are reared as easily as other birds, 

 and should indeed be rather scantily fed to keep down the size. 

 Rice is often largely employed in their diet for the same 

 purpose, and so is late hatching ; but this tends to shorten the 

 tails and other furnishing of the cocks. Most of the liens are 

 good mothers, and are often employed to rear small game; 

 and are not bad layers if the eggs were only larger. We 

 believe them, however, to produce quite as much for their 

 food as ordinary breeds. But their chief use is in the garden, 

 where they eat many slugs and insects, with very little 

 damage. On this account they may be usefully and profitably 

 kept where a separate poultry-yard is found impracticable. We 

 should prefer the Game variety, as being hardiest ; and, being 

 good foragers, five or six of these may be kept in a garden for 

 almost nothing, requiring only a house two feet square to roost 

 and lay in. 



Bantam eggs are the very thing to tempt the appetite of an 

 invalid, and are just nicely cooked by pouring boiling water 

 over them upon the breakfast table. 



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