282 



FANCIERS' JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 



and attention than the Norwich, but they amply repay this, 

 as a really good, healthy Belgian canary, bred by one's self, 

 is something to be proud of. There is quite as much differ- 

 ence between a Belgian and Norwich as between an Arab 

 and a cart-horse. They are also birds of position, and are 

 not judged for color, although it is of course an advantage 

 when combined with other good points; and consequently, 

 the Belgian exhibitor is not brought into contact with those 

 people who exhibit artificially colored birds, and he has more 

 chance of a fair award, although there are nefarious prac- 

 tices adopted even with Belgians to get them up for show. 

 The bird depicted in the engraving is a buff cock, two years 

 old. He was exhibited at the last Crystal Palace show by 

 Mr. Heneage Gibbes, where he was awarded first prize, 

 having previously taken first prize at Southampton. He is 

 a very strong healthy bird, and is, with some others, the 

 foundation of what it is hoped will prove a thorough strong 

 healthy strain of English-bred Belgian canaries. There is 

 every prospect of it at present, and with the mild climate of 

 the south of England, there is little doubt of ultimate suc- 

 cess. — Poultry Review. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



BANTAMS. 



Who does not admire the plucky little Bantam cock, 

 strutting proudly around the narrow limits of his pen? 

 And his crow? Jumping upon the highest object in his 

 yard, he nearly falls backward in endeavoring to stand 

 straighter, crow louder and longer than the Brahma cock 

 in the neighboring pen. 



We had in our possession a pair of common Bantams, which 

 we allowed to run with a flock of Leghorns. The next day 

 after the Bantam cock was set at liberty he had fought and 

 conquered the Leghorn cock, and was leading the flock of 

 hens around, like a full-bred Game cock, while their former 

 lord, the Leghorn cock, was trembling in the distance. As 

 we did not care to set any eggs from these Leghorn hens, we 

 allowed the Bantam to play the lord and master over them. 

 But this state of affairs did not last long, for one day the 

 Leghorn cock gathered together the remnants of his courage, 

 fought, and severely whipped the little Bantam, and took his 

 place once again in the flock. So ended the brief but 

 glorious career of the little Bantam. Ever after his defeat 

 he kept shy of the victor, and remained in the society of his 

 demure little mate ; although when he caught a hen straying 

 from the flock he would play the tyrant over her till the 

 Leghorn cock came to her assistance, and then, thinking 

 "discretion the better part of valor," he would invariably 

 flee. 



Bantams are not only ornamental, but useful ; and fami- 

 lies living in the city, not having yards of sufficient size to 

 raise larger fowls, will find that a flock of Bantams will 

 keep them in eggs and "spring chickens." Their flesh 

 makes up in quality what it lacks in quantity. Their eggs, 

 though small, are most excellent eating. 



The different varieties of Bantams are numerous, some of 

 which we give : White, Black, Black African, Golden Se- 

 bright, Silver Sebright, Black Bed Game, Duckwing Game, 

 Japan Bantams, &c. 



Eor table use we would recommend the White, and for 

 pets the Sebright Bantams, though some say the eggs from 

 the latter variety are apt to prove unfertile— and so will 

 every egg that has been dipped in hot water, shaken, or a 



long needle pierced through it, as nine out of every dozen 

 e SS s J* ou Dll y from some unprincipled dealers are served. 



A house for Bantams on the same plan as that used for 

 larger breeds, but smaller, will answer. 



Eeed them twice a day on crushed corn, wheat or oats, 

 given alternately, with once a week oatmeal well seasoned 

 with cayenne pepper. Fresh water costs nothing, and 

 should be given every day, and oftener if possible. 



Paul Louie. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



MEADOW MICE. 



Boys residing in the country often catch meadow mice 

 and confine them as pets. Indeed they do make nice pets. 

 Their queer-shaped heads, their clumsy antics, and their 

 funny little squeak, afford much innocent amusement. 



An excellent cage for them may be made as follows : In- 

 close a plat of ground five feet squai'e by wire netting. 

 Roof this inclosure over with the same material, or your 

 pets will climb up the sides of the cage and make their 

 escape at the top. In the centre of this inclosed plat sink 

 an empty dry-goods box to a level with the ground, and fill 

 it with mellow soil. ■ Board over all the open ground, so 

 that they can burrow nowhere but in the box. Tour cage 

 is now ready to receive its occupants. Luring the first 

 night of their captivity the mice will burrow in the box. Put 

 in their cage some dry corn-silk, of which to make their 

 nests. 



Feed them solely upon corn grains, and be sure to give 

 them fresh water at least once a day. 



The same kind of a cage as the one described above will 

 do in which to confine any kind of burrowing animal. 



Philo. 



(For Fanciers' Journal.) 



GOLD FISH IN A GLOBE. 



Fill your globe one-tenth full of well-washed bar sand. 

 Scatter a few small rocks about the bottom. Fasten to the 

 largest rock a piece of " river weed." Fill the globe two- 

 thirds full of water, and put in the gold fish. Feed them, 

 once a week only, on wheat flour and milk mixed to the 

 consistency of putty. If you live near a slaughter-house 

 use blood in preference to milk. When the water needs 

 changing the fish will rise to the surface and gasp. Never 

 change the water until they do this. Philo. 



(ffiitttlopcsi, teuton, awl (&im\$ ai ^vmlm 

 WLmivt&. 



Jno. S. Ives, Salem, Mass. — Eggs for hatching from a 

 specialty of four varieties, Asiatic. 



James Shkpartj's descriptive circular of Fancy Fowls. 

 8 plates, photo-litho-illustrations. Bristol, Conn. 



W. T. Rogers, Doylestown, Pa. — Fancy Poultry price 

 list and Eggs. 



S. Merry, Ilion, N. Y. — Circular. Breeder of Light 

 Brahmas, Buff and Partridge Cochins. 



E. G. Rtjnnells, Hopkinton, N. H. — Fancy Fowls, 

 Plymouth Rocks, and Brown Leghorns a specialt}'. 



J. Boardman Smith, North Haven, Conn. — White Leg- 

 horn Fowls and Eggs. P. O. Box 28. 



N. Guilbert, Gwynedd, Pa. — Price list Fancy Poultry, 

 Pigs, Sheep, and Pets. 



