BANTAMS 283 



hackle, saddle and wing markings. The female is white, 

 with reddish edges on the neck feathers, and salmon breast. 

 The beak and legs in both sexes are yellow. Pyles were 

 produced by a cross between Black-breasted Reds and 

 Whites, and an occasional cross with the former is advis- 

 able. 



Whites for many years were of very inferior quality, 

 and too many of the better ones had dark legs. Very 

 recently, however, this variety has improved wonderfully, 

 many birds exhibited being fully as good as the colored 

 varieties, and with the deepest yellow legs. 



Blacks, unfortunately, are a very mediocre lot, and do 

 not seem to be improving. There is a field here for an in- 

 telligent breeder. 



The Old English Game Bantam, which is of the old- 

 fashioned, short-legged, full-tailed type, is now enjoying 

 great favor here. It is a diminutive of the Pit Game, being 

 strong and well built, although small. The most common 

 colors are the Black-breasted Red and the Spangle, in which 

 the plumage of the former is thickly spotted with white. A 

 few Duckwings are also seen. 



Ornamental Bantams 



Under this heading are gathered all of the bantams not 

 included among the Games. There are many attractive 

 sorts, many of which are diminutives of large breeds. A 

 few, however, are entirely distinctive. It is convenient to 

 consider them in two groups, one having the leg free from 

 feathers and the other having it heavily booted. 



In the first group probably the most extensively bred are 

 the RosE-coMBS. They were based on a very old breed, 

 )ut now have been brought to a point where they corre- 

 spond perfectly with the Hamburg Fowl. The shape and 



