BANTAM. 19 



been uniformly black: thence it results that those of 

 various colours are breeds crossed in this country. 



Besides the Polanders, there is a small variety 

 now imported from Holland, called EVERY-DAY-HENS, 

 which are everlasting layers. The eggs of the ever- 

 lasting layers, generally, are not so large as those 

 of the common hens, nor equally substantial and 

 nutritious. This seems an obvious consequence. 

 From October 25th to the 25th of the following 

 September, our five Poland hens laid 503 eggs, one 

 of them only sitting 'within the time. An average 

 egg weighed 1 ounce 5 drachms, exclusive of the 

 shell, which in this breed is very thin ; the above 

 number making a total weight of 50| Ibs. and a 

 fraction. 



The tops of these fowls should be periodically 

 clipped near the eyes, or they grow into the eyes of 

 the fowls and nearly blind them, rendering them very 

 subject to alarm and to be driven away. This is par- 

 ticularly necessary in wet weather. 



Bantam. 



This well-known small breed, originally from India, 

 is valued chiefly for its grotesque figure and delicate 

 flesh. 



There has been lately obtained a variety of Ban- 

 tams, extremely small, and as smooth-legged as a 

 game fowl. From their size and delicacy they are 

 very convenient, as they may always stand in the 

 place of chickens, when small ones are not otherwise 

 to be had. They are a good substitute for partridges. 

 They are also particularly useful for sitting upon 



