252 THE PRACTICAL POULTRY KEEPER. 



there have been exhibited Malays in several colours, Aseels, 

 Andalusians, Leghorns in several colours, Hamburghs both 

 pencilled and spangled, Polish, Spanish, Dark and Light 

 Brahmas, Houdans, Silver-grey Dorkings, Silkies, and 

 Sultans. We confess that some of them do not appear to 

 us worth the trouble of production, especially considering 

 their little practical value. 



Bantam chickens require, for a week or two, a little 

 more animal food than other fowls, and, 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. It is better to rely upon an avoidance of such 

 grains and meals as are rich in nitrogen thus dispensing in 

 particular with grits, oats, oatmeal, and middlings and 

 feeding scantily at longer intervals. This does not imply 

 starvation, but on the very contrary the highest health and 

 condition ; the ample and frequent feeding with which 

 other poultry is often pushed on, by no means always 

 producing the greatest degree of bodily vigour and activity. 

 In the Bantam we desire simply to produce the light and 

 nimble grace of nature, rather than the heavy flesh which is 

 the breeder's object in many other cases. Most of the hens 

 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 

 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 



