August 23, 1864. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



161 



Take him all in all I am inclined to think that a well-bred 

 Black Bantam cock is among the very handsomest of our 

 domestic poultry. He is, too, a very clean little fellow. It 

 is our custom to breakfast daily in the study, but on Sundays 

 we take that meal in the dining-room. I had, a few years 

 since, a cock of this breed who came regularly to the window 

 at eight o'clock, tapped with his beak (if not noticed he 

 would go on tapping, letting us have no rest), and have his 

 breakfast of crumbs. But when Sunday morning came, he 

 would first make his appearance at his regular window, but, 

 alas, no welcome tablecloth, with good things on it, was to 

 be seen ; he would then run round the corner of the house 

 at full speed, with his head on one side, listening for the 

 sound of voices, passing front door and drawing-room win- 

 dows, and at the dining-room windows he appeared for 

 certain, crowing, tapping, and confident that his appeal 

 would be successful. This bird was the cleverest fowl I ever 

 had — but, in passing, let me say, the more you pet poultry, 

 the more of mind or sagacity do they reveal, but gradually 

 cease to pet and caress, they return to mere fowls of ordinary 

 type. This bird used to fly up to my children's heads or 

 shoulders, stand on my foot and crow, and yet he was never 

 vicious, the youngest bare-legged little child was no sufferer 

 from his familiarity. 



Next let me notice the precocity of the Black Bantam. 

 I have now by me four chickens of this breed, hatched on 

 the 10th of last May, also four Game chickens, Black-breasted 

 Reds, I do not mean Game Bantams, these were hatched on 

 the same day, consequently they are all just three months 

 old, for I write on the 10th of August. Now the Game 

 cockerel is only a long-legged gawky boy, with almost 

 colourless comb and wattles, he has never attempted to 

 crow, while the two black cockerels have crowed these six 

 weeks, and now execute that adult accomplishment to per- 

 fection. They also walk with the hens, one is particularly 

 fond of an old hen, and as I sent away my late cock, the 

 master of the two cockerels is in all respects the Sultan. 



I wish somebody could supply me with the pedigree of 

 Black Bantams, for I find them more game than Game. 

 For instance, my Game chickens are of a prize strain, willow- 

 legged and all the rest of it, but the black cockerel not only 

 drives off the Game pullets, but is totally master of the 

 Game cockerel, leading him a wretched life, for, not content 

 with giving him a peck and done with it, the little tyrant 

 hangs on his wing, and punishes the poor long-legged boy 

 terribly, he never daring to turn again. Of course there 

 will be a day of fearful retribution presently, a turning the 

 tables, a Nemesis, and my only fear is that the grand battle 

 will end fatally, in case of no eye seeing the fight, for my 

 brave little fellow will fight to the last, of that I am quite 

 confident. 



I know no one possessed of Black Game fowls, but I should 

 like to try a cross between the two black kinds, Game and 

 Bantam. A very nice little fowl would, I should think, be 

 the result, and a profitable one too (and why not make pets 

 profitable ?), for the black puEets are excellent winter layers. 

 I want to breed a fowl, laying well, and also a fair size. I 

 should know I was eating a Black Bantam egg if I had my 

 eyes shut, and then next in my estimation comes the Game 

 fowl's egg. Now a cross would bring a bird with good points 

 and properties, fit too for open gardens like mine ; and every 

 one should keep half a dozen little fowls, even if they have 

 no separate yard. Can anybody help me in this matter ? 

 Good laying, good-looking, spirited little fowls, too small to 

 scratch up a gooseberry bush, or even a scarlet geranium, 

 would, I think, be welcome to many. 



I have said nothing about the little black hens. Certainly 

 I do not find them equal to the cojks in intelligence, but 

 they are neat-looking birds, some of them good sitters, all 

 excellent mothers. The pullets have charming little heads 

 as they peer at one from a bed of potatoes. I also find that 

 the colour of the hens, originally of a dull black almost 

 brown, improves when you avoid breeding in-and-in. — 

 Wiltshire Rectok. 



PIGEONS' FOOD. 



I have kept Pigeons many years, ever since I could hold 

 one, and having had some experience of the different kinds 

 of grain as Pigeon's food, I should be glad to exchange 



notes with other fanciers as to their opinions respecting the 

 quality of various sorts of corn as food for Pigeons under 

 different circumstances. 



I have generally been in the habit of allowing my Pigeons 

 to fly out for the greater part of the day, and under such 

 arrangements I find most kinds of food are wholesome, and 

 the Pigeons thrive well when they can provide themselves 

 with lime, gravel, and green meat. They always had access 

 to a bath in fine weather, and also to salt. Disease was 

 then almost unknown among them. Now things are much 

 altered, not altogether for the better. I am living on the 

 top of a hill in a bleak situation; our water is from a well, 

 very soft, and contains no lime. My Pigeons are high bred 

 and tender, being Tumblers of different sorts — as Scotch, 

 House, and Air Tumblers ; Rollers ; High-flying Tumblers, 

 and Short-faced. 



The House Tumblers and many of the Air Tumblers 

 cannot fly, from their tumbling so much, while some of the 

 Rollers if put on the wing will roll till they strike the earth, 

 and would in consequence injure if not kill themselves, and 

 for this reason my Pigeons do not have their liberty, except 

 the High-flying birds and the young ones, which are let out 

 once a-day when weather suits. They fly for about two 

 hours and then go in. 



It will thus be perceived that under present arrangements 

 a delicate breed in a bleak place, highly fed, and taking no 

 exercise, must be liable to complaints unknown to a hardier 

 race in a more natural and genial condition. I am in hopes 

 of obtaining a better and more sheltered place, and so 

 avoiding some of the difficulties. Still some persons may 

 say, Why not keep a breed that can take care of themselves 

 and so be let out? but every one to his own taste. I 

 flatter myself I have a first-rate breed of Tumbling Pigeons 

 and do not desire to change. I have now explained under 

 what circumstances I have noticed the effects of various 

 3orts of food. 



Tabes are generally considered the best food for Pigeons. 

 I must agree with Mr. Eaton when he says they are relaxing, 

 and too much purging is not conducive to health. 



Beans. — Small old beans are by many declared to be the 

 best of all food. I find them strong and warm, if I may so 

 express myself. I cannot well succeed without them, yet I 

 regard them as heating ; the old Pigeons will breed too fast 

 on them, the cocks drive to nest so determinedly that they 

 neglect the previous hatch ; and, moreover, beans do not 

 readily make soft meat, and the transition from soft meat to 

 beans is too sudden for delicate young Pigeons already weak- 

 ened by neglect, consequently, many die. 



Peas are very nutritious food, much recommended for 

 Pigeons to fly on ; but I find if my Pigeons have many peas 

 the hens lay soft eggs. 



Lentils. — I have not tried any of this food of late years, 

 but when in Germany found it good, and it is highly nu- 

 tritious. 



Vetches. — In Prance I fed my Pigeons principally on 

 small grey vetches and liked them very much as food ; but 

 that is some years since, and I cannot compare them with 

 present food. 



Wheat. — Very fattening and excellent for feeding young 

 Pigeons on; but the old ones become fat, lazy, and soft- 

 feathered on wheat. 



Barley. — Very well as a mixture with peas, but I do not 

 regard it as a good food, and the Pigeons do not seem to 

 relish it. 



Buckwheat. — A very good addition, the Pigeons are fond 

 of it, and I regard it as beneficial, but have not tried it 

 much. 



Hempseed. — Very fattening and exciting, and not good 

 as a constant food; but useful in getting birds into con- 

 dition or hastening pairing or breeding. 



Canaryseed. — I have a high opinion of this, but it is too 

 expensive. 



Rice bears a bad name, but I find it useful as a mix- 

 ture to prevent diarrhoea, and think the Flying Tumblers fly 

 better since they have had a little. 



I should be pleased if any other fancier would compare 



notes and give me the benefit of their experience, either 



through the columns of this Journal or privately. It will be 



advisable to name the breed of Pigeons, whether in confine- 



J| ment or at liberty, how they are fed, and, what I regard as 



