THE BANTAM FOWL. 



39 



I think there is a little doubt that these colors could be 

 t)red in line; it would be a wide field for fanciers to work on, 

 AS the Japanese, like other Asiatics, spend more energy 

 on the forms and size than on markings. This has given the 

 ■opportunity to our modern fanciers to put the master touch 

 In coloring. 



I have found these birds good layers and fairly prolific. 

 1 hope the time is near when greater interest will bring out 

 more beautiful varieties of these diminutive pets. 



HENRY HALES. 



FRIZZLED AND RUMPLESS BANTAMS. 



In the chapter on Japanese fowls mention was made 

 of the Frizzled as being of the same variety. In giving the 

 Information about these breeds, it is not my intention to 

 «laim all tlie statements as my own, for the reason that 

 much of this infoi-mation is gathered from books and re- 

 corded for your Information. It is my wish to state here 

 that the information thus gathered is put into this form 

 without any reference to its origin. 



The Frizzle is one of the oldest known breeds. Natural- 

 ists made mention of this and the Rumpless about three hun- 

 •dred years ago. On one point the early writers agree — that 

 the Frizzled is a native of Southern Asia; also to be found in 

 Java, Sumatra and the Philippine Islands. The prevailing 

 color of the wild race is white, with smooth legs. Some 

 specimens were found of various colors' and feathered legs, 

 indicating the presence of the same blood that produced our 

 Brahmas and Cochins. These facts would indicate an inter- 

 ■change of fowls at that early day between the inhabitants 

 of the older nations of the earth. If the fowls of China 

 found their way to the natives of the above named coun- 

 tries, why not the same interchange of fowls with Japan, 

 thus giving them the blood to produce the Frizzled Japanese 

 Bantams? 



The Rumpless, called in early times the Rumpkin, is 

 properly called "Choci-Kukullo," which translated is "Cochin 

 Fowl." Some writers claim it as a native of Persia. Aldro- 

 vandus spoke of this variety as the Persian fowl, while 

 others positively state that it first came from Cochin, and 

 their natural color was black. Some white ones were also 

 seen. These facts show that both these fowls originally 

 came from the same region of the country, that their original 

 color was black or white, with smooth legs, and for the 

 Rumpless rose combs. The Frizzled were very much the 

 same. Now, these facts being so plainly recorded at that 

 early day should be a guide for our standard makers, and if 

 recognized by them at all, color and comb should be very 

 specific and positively described and held to, and not a lot 

 of cross-bred mongrels encouraged into the show room. 



Japan has sent us in the last twenty years many odd 

 fowls, showing their ability to produce odd forms, the Friz- 

 zled one being the most attractive. Some of our ablest English 

 writers do not admit that these came from Japan, but to my 

 mind their form and carriage point to the Japanese origin. 

 They are bred and shown in many colors, but the preference 

 Is given in all cases to Blacks and Whites, the former the 

 more preferred. I copy from an English writer these words: 

 "As to comb we have no great preference, though our choice 

 would be the single comb, but in legs and feet, four toes and 

 clean legs are to be preferred. Of all the Frizzled, Whites 

 seem to be the most charming. These should have yellow 

 legs (often they are willow, sometimes slate), but yellow 

 ■should have the preference. Next comes the Golden, with 

 yellow or willow legs; the Slate color, with black or slate 

 <!Olored legs, and the Blacks with black legs. In addition to 

 these, we have the Browns, Grays and Blues,— in fact, all 



kinds of solid and mixed colors known to fowls." These 

 statements show th6 many different colors of these little 

 frizzled fowls. 



Frizzled Bantams are quite small, some of the Palace 

 winners not exceeding one pound in weight. The most valued 

 property is the curl of the feathers, next, the quality of 

 feather; to be perfect they must be hard and wiry. Color is 

 the third consideration. Being a tender fowl tfyey must be 

 protected from all changes of the weather, rain or storms. 

 They are fairly good layers, splendid sitters and mothers, 

 and their chicks are as easily raised as the Japanese. 



The Rumpless Bantams, produced, as they were, by Mr. 

 Tegetmeier, seem to' my mind to belong to the same chapter 

 wiih the above. Let me quote the words of others as to them: 

 "They were produced by a cross of a very small Rumpless 

 hen with a crest. She was mated to a White Polish and pro- 

 duced Rumpless Polish Bantams. This same hen mated to 

 a very small Nankin Bantam produced tailless Nankins. 

 The result of these two crosses passed into the hands of 

 others, who continued the work and produced them in many 

 form^ and colors; also some with very short, booted legs. 

 Both single and rose combs are seen, but the single is much 

 preferred." These two breed's in theii- many colors would 



A PAIR OF WHITE CRESTED WHITE POLISH BANTAMS. 



make a study for any number of fknciers, and I hbpe some 

 enterprising breeder will look into them and\dd them in 

 perfection to our list of little beauties at bur exhibitions'. 



FRIZZLES IN ENGLAND. :;,' - 



We clip the following from the Stock Keeper as to Eng- 

 lish Frizzles: 



Frizzles, notwithstanding the fact that they have 

 been exhibited in England nearly thirty years, have failed 

 "to take on" in the fancy. This is probably; on account of 

 the difficulties experienced in rearing the chicks; as the vari- 

 ety has been greatly inbred in order to obtain the type and 

 character so essential in Frizzles, the stamina of the breed 

 has been greatly weakened. 



There is great diversity of opinion as to what country 

 this breed originated in. Some say Japan, other Friesland, 

 whilst some ideas of their origin are both too numerous and 

 too funny to enumerate in this article. However, their 

 nationality matters little; they are here, and having .been 

 here so many years, are likely to remain, especially seeing 

 that both judges and fanciers are gradually beginning to 

 appreciate their charms. 



With such an enthusiastic pioneer of the variety as Mr. 

 G. Reyner, of Thurlstone, near Penistone, who to my knowl- 



