Cochin or Pekin Baxtams. 465 



invariably to a far more exaggerated development of the fault in the offspring. It is the wisest 

 policy, therefore, to avoid altogether even slight faults in the combs of brood stock." 



We need only add that the Black Bantam is perhaps brought to the greatest perfection of any, ;^ 

 unless we except the Game, wonderfully faultless birds being now required to win. At a recent * 

 large show we counted no less than twenty-eight pens of these exquisite birds, at least two-thirds 

 of which would hav^e been sure winners a few years back. These facts make most careful and 

 skilful breeding necessary, while everything possible should be done to show the birds in the very 

 height of condition. 



COCHIN OR PEKIN BANTAMS.— This pretty little Bantam, as might be supposed, is a 

 "heathen Chinee," being part of the "loot" when the Summer Palace at Pekin was sacked during 

 the Anglo-French Expedition of i860. It is a diminutive Buff Cochin, but still shorter on the legs 

 than the large variety which it so much resembles. The cock's upper plumage is usually a very 

 rich and deep orange ; and the chicks breed remarkably true to feather and other points, which is 

 very fortunate, since the extremely limited stock makes any very strict selection impossible. 

 Mr. Beldon, who kept them several years, writes of them as follows : — 



" The gentleman from whom I get them had the first pair seen in England ; and he has had 

 the breed ever since, and bred a number every year, and has never crossed them, so that they are 

 as pure as when they first came over. The chickens of the pure strain are always alike, breeding 

 as true as sparrows ; from which I believe the variety must have been in existence a number of 

 years. It is in fact cultivated as a fancy variety in China ; for I had a gentleman visiting me a 

 few years ago who had a friend that brought over some more from there, but, very unfortunately, 

 they were all killed by a cat. The Chinese, as is well known, have a great fancy for dwarfing 

 different animals, and even plants. 



" The cocks do not get fully furnished until the second year, and the shape also is only fully 

 seen then ; indeed, I often think these two-year old cocks are even better shaped in all Cochin 

 characteristics than their larger brethren. In colour the hens are a light buff, and the cocks a 

 dark chestnut buff. In disposition they are very quiet and gentle, and with care the chicks thrive 

 and feather well, and very early, being generally fully fledged at two months old. At this age 

 they are very pretty. They are best kept to themselves, as they appear very shy of other breeds, 

 though much attached to each other." 



Mr. H. B. Smith, of Brooklands, Broughton, near Preston, whose birds are represented in the 

 plate, writes of them : " I am sorry I cannot give many particulars about them, as we have only 

 kept them a short time. I consider them a delicate breed, and susceptible to cold. They are 

 contented in confinement, and very tame ; but seem to thrive much the best when they can run 

 out to get worms and grubs. They seem very fond of picking at a bone, but too much meat 

 must be avoided." 



It has been stated that the eggs are generally sterile, unless a cross of some other breed be 

 employed ; and there is no doubt whatever that the birds shown by one noted exhibitor were thus 

 cross-bred ; but, although unquestionably delicate, neither the experience of Mr. Beldon, or the 

 gentleman to whom he refers as having had the original stock, and both of whom have bred them 

 largely, at all bears out the assertion of sterility, until last season. The gentleman in question, 

 Mr. Edward Kerrick, of Arnolds, near Dorking, Surrey, writes us as follows, under date of July 

 2nd, 1873: — 



" The Pekin Bantams were given to me by a friend, who himself received them direct from an 

 officer in the army which took part in the Chinese War, and took possession of the Emperor of 

 59 



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