286 BIRDS 



The breeds with feathered legs are less numerous than 

 the clean-legged sorts. The most popular are the Cochin 

 Bantams, which probably are bred more commonly than 

 any other Ornamental Bantam. In these birds, length and 

 softness of feather are paramount quaHties. The legs are 

 short and the body full, the long, soft plumage giving a 

 rounded appearance. The feathers of the rumps are par- 

 ticularly lengthened, forming a mass known as the 

 ** cushion," which almost obscures the tail. The latter is 

 short and soft, and in the male entirely free from long 

 feathers. The feathering of the legs should be of good 

 length and well developed on the toes, including the middle 

 one. The comb is single and as low as possible. 



Cochin Bantams were first brought to England from the 

 gardens of the Royal Palace at Pekin. They were buff in 

 color and were known as Pekin Bantams, a name which is 

 still retained in England. The original buffs were of the 

 dark red color still sometimes to be seen. By crosses with 

 whites, and also with the large Cochin, the much desired 

 lemon-buff surface color in the males was secured, but not 

 without the appearance of white in the primaries and under- 

 color, faults which even as yet have not been entirely eradi- 

 cated. 



Ten years ago buffs led in quality and popularity, but 

 recently they have had to give way to the blacks, which 

 have improved immensely. The writer can remember when 

 white undercolor was the common condition, " black to the 

 skin " being a goal apparently far beyond reach. Purity 

 of color has been so well fixed now, however, that breeders 

 are beginning to ignore this point in the strife for shape. 

 Blacks should be of a beetle-green sheen, entirely free from 

 purple barring. 



The White Cochin Bantam has never equaled the others 

 in shape or color. A few years ago, however, fairly good 



