Breeding Laced Bantams. 471 



does not necessarily involve this consequence, though it is remarkable that in the most dosely-brcd 

 variety— the Lancashire Mooney — which Mr. Beldon has stated to have been in his opinion 

 perfected by close breeding out of the Yorkshire Pheasant, many sterile cocks were found. This 

 in fact seems the real clue, and if we regard the hen-tail in this case as one of the signs of close 

 breeding, all seems accounted for. The origin of the Laced Bantam we have already seen to 

 have been almost as complex as that of Dr. Bennett's " Plymouth Rocks," for the truth of the 

 account we have quoted is manifest on its very face ; and, indeed, a simple comparison of the 

 drawings of Sebright feathers with those of the Polish fowls previously given would of itself show 

 conclusively where the lacing came from. Now a breed formed by such complex crosses can only 

 be preserved by close in-breeding of the most severe character— far more severe than anything we 

 have advised in other parts of this work — and there are few opportunities to get fresh blood. Add 

 to this that the smallest and therefore weakest birds were selected, and the progress of sterility is 

 only too satisfactorily accounted for. 



We have seen that long ago a cross with the Black Bantam was employed to remedy these 

 growing evils, and it has been more than suspected that modern breeders have used the same 

 expedient, though in some quarters it has been denied. The following interesting notes on 

 Sebright Bantams, from the most successful breeder of the present day, Mr. Matthew Leno, of 

 Dunstable, will however remove all doubt on this point. 



" The breeding of the beautiful Gold and Silver Sebright (or Laced) Bantam, has from my 

 youth greatly engrossed my attention. My commencement with the above was a present from the 

 late Sir Thomas G. S. Sebright, Bart., of a trio of very beautiful birds ; this was about two years 

 after the decease of the original producer of the Laced Bantam, viz.. Sir John Sebright, Bart., 

 and I assure you it was no small pleasure to find on my arrival at home one day such an 

 unlooked-for present. Poultry-shows shortly after becoming very popular, I tried my hand at 

 exhibiting them, and was successful in my first attempt, which prompted me to give my first 

 fancy poultry every attention ; and I think I may be excused a little boasting in saying that I 

 have successfully exhibited the Laced Bantam ever since at most of the principal poultry 

 exhibitions in the kingdom. 



" It is a well-known fact that the lacing of the Sebright Bantam is very difficult to keep 

 together ; I find on breeding them with clear tails, that the lacing on the breast and shoulders is 

 mostly very indifferent. I have bred some of my best for evenness of lacing by introducing 

 occasionally a Black Bantam cock to Laced hens, and in succeeding years breeding from the best 

 cross-bred cockerel with Laced hens having no such stain amongst them. It takes several years 

 to get the lacing good afterwards, but some of my best exhibition birds have been bred in the 

 manner described ; the Black Bantam causes the tails to come rather dark, but the lacing otherwise 

 most perfect ; the cross is also most useful in tending to make the Sebright Bantam more fertile. 

 I have, in my earlier experience, had in some seasons only two or three chicks hatch out of 

 as many hundred eggs, but since I have introduced the cross named I get plenty of fertile eggs ; 

 and although the cross produces the cloudy tail, I am recompensed by the superior lacing 

 obtained. The breeding of Gold and Silver separately should not always be followed, as the 

 Gold birds' colouring becomes too red. The breeding of the two colours together generally 

 yields some splendid birds ; the produce will be both Gold and Silver, and not one in fifty will be 

 half-and-half colour. 



" They lay a large number of eggs, and are easily reared. It is a fact well-known to me that 

 many chickens are killed by what I term 'too great kindness ;' many commence to stuff them with 

 too large a quantity of egg food, I use nothing but barley-meal, a sprinkling of oatmeal, and 



