BANTAM FOWLS. 



165 



As late as 1847, fowls of this breed were sold in England for 60 

 ($250,) per pair ; and now, in this country, they readily command $25 

 per pair. As to whether they are really worth that amount of 

 money, is a question which fanciers and anxious purchasers must 

 settle among themselves. 



I am yours respectfully, JOHN GILES. 



COL. MARK NOBLES BANTAMS. 



The above are portraits from life of Col. Noble's Golden 

 Laced Seabright Bantams, whose stock is known to be equal, if 

 not superior to any other Bantams in this country. They are 

 of his own importing, and are said to be the best that England 

 can produce. I am to receive an importation from the same 

 English stock, previously alluded to. Gentlemen who have 

 seen these fowls in Col. Noble's yards, assure me that they 

 excel any thing in the Bantam line ever before imported. They 

 were secured through Dr. Bennett's influence, as the following 

 letter shows : 



Col. Mark Noble, In giving you a history of your imported Sea- 

 bright Bantams, I cannot do better than to quote the exact language 

 of Mrs. S. H. Hosier Williams, of Eaton Mascott, W. Shrewsbury, 

 England, in a letter to me of Dec. 24th, 1852. Mrs. Williams says : 



"By the same ship, I shall also send, pursuant to your orders, three 

 pairs of very first rate Seabright Bantams the golden sort as good 

 as they can possibly be had. The Silver Seabrights you asked for, 

 are at present unattainable. The breed seems extinct. There were 



