THE BANTAM FOWL. 



265 



with brilliant, reddish tinged eyes, by some termed ferret-eyed; singlt 

 or double-comb, in 

 both sexes; a 

 graceful neck, 

 rather short than 

 long ; wide, deep, 

 projecting breast; 

 the body is not 

 cnly long, but 

 round, rather than 

 flat or square; and 

 the legs, consider- 

 ing their size, short, 

 and invariably of a 

 silver white." The 

 Dorking is very 

 hardy, audits 

 young are easily 

 reared; both of 

 which are very 

 important recom- 

 mendations f o r 

 fowls in the North- 

 ern and Eastern 

 States. When 

 crossed with other 

 birds they invari- 

 ably improve the 

 form, an-d the quality -of the meat. 



These birds have been, long prized, and it is now many years since 

 their superiority over our ordinary domestic varieties, was discovered 

 and appreciated. They were first noticed, and the variety adopted by 

 the Cumberland breeders, whence they were carried into Lancashire 

 ad Westmoreland, and gradually spread over all England. They 

 are also found in many parts of Ireland. Whether, however, it is the 

 result of injudicious treatment, imperfect feeding, or change of cli- 

 mate, when met with for from the region where they originated, tbey 

 appear to have lost much of their superiority. 



THE BANTAM FOWL. 



This beautiful little domestic bird came originally from the pro 

 vince of Bantam, in Java. In this country, we have every kind of 

 color and comparative size of " Bantam," but in their purity, the "Sir 

 John Seabright/' "the Java, 17 or the "African" varieties, are rare 

 birds. " This bird," says Richardson, " has its legs perfectly naked to 

 the toes, and approaches in form more nearly to the game breed. The 

 high bred cock of this breed should have a rose comb, full hackles 

 a well-feathered and well-carried tail, a stately and courageous 



