Breeding Game Bantams. 485 



there is any white in the cock's ear-lobes, you may expect to see it reproduced at least fourfold 

 worse in the pullets from him ; and a faulty comb in the cock should at once decide against him 

 as a stock bird for pullets. I would particularly insist on the necessity of having a fine head and 

 smooth face, with small comb and ear-lobes, in both the cock and hen from which to breed pullets, 

 of whatever colour. Choose, then, two or three hens, each possessing the points you want in the 

 pullets, and all being as much alike as possible in colour and markings, and commence setting their 

 eggs a month later than those from which you desire cockerels, because it is always better to slwiv 

 pullets at least a month younger than cockerels. 



"To breed the best Brown-breasted Red cockerels, secure a cock not over two years old, 

 good in all the standard properties, and especially in the dark face, dark eye, and clearly-marked 

 breast and general colour throughout. The colour of the cock is a very important point in the bird 

 from which you wish to breed cockerels, as is also the shape of the hen. Put two hens with kim 

 of the standard colour, specially selecting them for shape, fine heads, and good brassy hackles, with 

 clearly-marked breasts, but as black in breast as you can get them, so long as they have well-defined 

 lacing on the edges of the feathers. 



"For breeding Brown-breasted Red pullets, use a cock rather darker in colour than the 

 exhibition standard ; indeed, if his breast is nearly black so much the better. The most important 

 points are shape and fine head properties, and as green-black wings as possible. Put two or three 

 hens with him, and let them be perfect in everything, as dark in hackle as possible so as to have 

 the gold edges at all. 



" We breed our Duckwing cockerels in two ways. First, by a very bright rich-coloured Black- 

 breasted Red cock, perfectly clear in hackle, and white-necked Wheaten hens. Secondly, by a 

 perfectly-coloured Duckwing cock, and the Grey Wheaten hens, or very light-coloured Partridge- 

 feathered Red hens. I find the above ways best, as a rule ; but Duckwings may also be bred 

 from a Red cock and a prize Duckwing hen, by pure Duckwing parents on both sides, or by a 

 Duckwing cock out of a Ginger-red hen. 



"For breeding Duckwing pullets, use the Silver Duckwing cock and prize Duckwing hens, or 

 exhibition standard Red hens. If the Red hens are used, select those which are the clearest 

 golden colour on the head, and perfectly free from red or rusty marks on the wing. 



" To breed the Red Pile cocks, take a rich-coloured White-breasted Red Pile cock, and put 

 him to a couple of Pile hens rich gold in the neck, well rosed on the wing, and showing a little 

 colour on the flight-coverts, but rather pale in the breast. To breed the pullets use the same 

 cock and standard-coloured hens,, not more than two or three hens at a time. When we use a cross 

 of any other colour with the Piles, it is the Black-breasted Red, and we choose the darkest Red 

 cock we can find in our stock, and put him to the darkest-coloured Pile hens, being particular that 

 the Red cock's wings have a very deep rich bay on them. 



" The Wheaten hens are bred from the cock-breeding strains of Black-breasted Reds and 

 Duckwings, and need no further description. 



" Exhibiting successfully requires knowledge and tact. There are many good Game Bantam 

 cocks that when alone show admirably in a pen, but if a hen is placed with them, droop their 

 wings and spread their tails so as to make them look worthless. It is well to know the natural 

 disposition and all the peculiarities of your birds, and to guard against such cases as these. There 

 are other cocks that always look sulky alone, and will not show at all unless they have a hen 

 with them. Many a good bird loses his chance for want of ascertaining whether he shows best 

 alone or in company. 



" It is desirable to accustom a cock to being in a pen, so that he may feel at home in it. 



