.^4 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



This variety breeds pretty true with Httle trouble, but it is so little kept that we can give no 

 detailed instructions. Indeed, it will be seen that some points can scarcely be regarded as fixed. 

 The name is supposed to have been given from the resemblance of the colour to that of nankeen 

 piece goods. We have often thought that by crossing this variety with Gold-pencilled Hamburghs, 

 a very pretty and very small Pencilled Bantam might be produced with little difficulty. 



WHITE BANTAMS. — The White Bantam usually shown exactly resembles the rose-combed 

 Black breed in all but plumage, having dark legs, red face, and white ear-lobes ; at least this is the 

 accepted standard of English breeders. But we repeat a remark made by us many years ago, that 

 the white ear-lobe is far inferior in appearance to red, tlie white plumage seeming to require this 

 contrast, and the white deaf-ear looking sickly in comparison. In America the red deaf-ear is 

 considered the correct colour, our Transatlantic brother-fanciers showing in this particular a sounder 

 appreciation of aesthetic beauty. In all other respects, allowing for the difference in plumage, our 

 remarks upon Black Bantams will apply to this breed. 



There is another beautiful breed — one of the oldest known — which we wish to see more 

 cultivated. We refer to the exquisite White Booted Bantam. This quaint little fowl only requires 

 to be known to be loved. The following notes on thi^ variety are from Mr. R. S. S. Woodgate, of 

 Tunbridge Wells, who informs us that he was led to cultivate the breed by a casual remark of 

 our own to the above effect in a poultry periodical, and finds our praise (we kept them when at 

 school) more than borne out in every particular. 



" White Booted Bantams," he says, " are perhaps the tamest and hardiest of all our Bantams. 

 An erroneous idea is afloat that all white breeds are delicate, but as I have devoted myself to breeds 

 of this colour for many years I can distinctly deny it. To any one who has a garden, with the 

 smallest possible bit of green, and wants a few birds for amusement only, and prefers even a smaller 

 breed than Silkies, I recommend this little variety ; they are very tame, very hardy, and so happy 

 in their dispositions. Then they are the gamest little fellows imaginable ; pick up a cock from the 

 yard, and he will crow in your very hands in the most defiant way. 



" This variety is very prolific, though the eggs are not much larger than pigeons' eggs ; and 

 the hens make admirable sitters and mothers ; but sometimes the length of their hocks makes them 

 roll the eggs from the nest when leaving it. Three little hens I now have with their chickens are 

 making the most exemplary mothers. 



" White Booted Bantams should be as small as possible, though we do not at present see them 

 so small as the generality of Bantams as a rule. They should have white legs and bills, and be 

 heavily booted and hocked ; the more feathering on their legs and feet the better. The cocks 

 should have nice full-sickled tails, and be firmly and closely made. There are both single and 

 double combs, but personally I much prefer the single, and believe that to be correct, they lose 

 so much of their peculiar appearance with the double comb. The single comb is, however, difficult 

 to get good, so many have " thumb-marks," as they are called — a kind of wave in the front of the 

 comb ; but I would never be too quick at discarding a bird for this failing, as sometimes the comb 

 comes right when the bird gets older. The hen's comb should be nicely serrated, upright, and not 

 too large ; those lopping over are most objectionable. 



" This breed has one drawback to which all white breeds are liable, namely, getting sunburnt. 

 When kept in an exposed sunny place the hackles turn yellow, like White Cochins, which is a 

 great impediment to successful exhibition. I can only recommend the shade of living underwood 

 and trees to ward off this, which does not generally appear the first summer. 



"This is a very old-fashioned breed of Bantams, though we do not see many of them now; 



