46 



THE BANTAM FOWL. 



and markings play such an important part, and which it is 

 almost impossible to obtain without inbreeding. If you 

 think by purchasing half a dozen of the very best exhibition 

 specimens from Tom, Dick and Harry, that you are bound 

 to breed the same the following season, you will quickly find 

 out your mistake, for it is very probable that the majority of 

 the produce would be little better than wasters, whereas had 

 you purchased only a couple of good breeding birds both of 

 the same strain I have no hesitation in saying that the pro- 

 duce of these two birds would be of more value than all 

 those bred from the half dozen exhibition birds, which 

 would no doubt have cost you four times as much. There- 

 fore start with some reliable strain and keep it pure. As 

 long as your chickens are healthy you can go on with the 

 same strain; always breed from healthy stock birds only, 

 and when your chickens come weakly and are difficult to 

 rear you will know that you have reached the limit of in- 

 breeding, beyond which you should never try to go, but in- 

 troduce another male bird with a certain amount of your 

 own strain in him, when you will be able to go on again as 

 successfully as before. P. PROUD. 



By Courtesy of Feathered World. 



MR. H. INMAN'S BLACK ROSE COMB BANTAMS- 



ROSE COMB BANTAMS— BLACK AND WHITE. 



They Mi^ht Be Called Hamburg Bantams, -which name would be appro- 

 priate—What Others Say About Them. 



The Black Bantam is spoken of at so early a day that 

 some contend that it was his imprudent crow that got St. 

 Peter Into trouble. Be this as it may, he and his companion, 

 the White, began their career long before any one took notice 

 of them to keep a record of their beginning. Black and White 

 Bantams with rose and single combs, with and without feath- 

 ered legs, are mentioned as exisiting centuries ago. Moubray 

 mentions in 1816, the fact that some Bantams were lately 

 obtained that were extremely small, having legs as smooth 

 as Games. He also gives to India the credit of their origin. 

 (The earliest illustrations of Black Bantams show the rose 

 comb and smooth legs.) Other writers claim Java as the 

 original home of all Bantams, but be this as it may, they 

 came to England over two hundred years ago, and the origi- 



nal were booted or feathered legged. Of these we will write 

 later, only mentioning, the above facts to show about th» 

 date of mention of smooth legged Bantams. 



The Black and White Rose Comb Bantams began to gain 

 favor aLi prominence as show birds in 1850. About this- 

 time some were shown that only weighed as follows: Cock. 

 fourteen ounces, and hen twelve ounces at twenty-two 

 months old. At this early day the Whites were very true 

 to color. Then perfectly white plumage throughout without 

 a single stain, could be seen. These birds had also white 

 beaks, legs, toes and ear-lobes. We allow at the present time 

 the yellow beaks and legs and with them often have the yel- 

 low plumage and ear-lobes; for weight we allow twenty-six 

 ounces for a cock bird, just twelve ounces more than the 

 birds of fifty years ago. 



It may be of interest to our readers to know what these 

 Bantams were like fifty years ago, so we quote from the 

 words of Messrs. Andrew Gwynne and Bailey, noted fanciers 

 of the time. As to weight, they say: "The less in reason 

 the better, but never dimlnutiveness at the sacrifice of shape, 

 feather and condition. The Blacks: The males should 

 have a full crimson rose comb, with 

 wattles and face of the same hue, but 

 with ear-lobes perfetetly white; plum- 

 age glossy black,, reflecting purple- 

 tints; tail full and sickled; short legs^ 

 which with the feet should be of ai 

 dark horn color. The hen is dusky 

 black, with her comb and wattles- 

 small, and of a dull leaden hue." 



Of their appearance they say:^ 

 "Bold of carriage, a very caricature 

 of Bantam arrogance. B'or the Whites- 

 the same form is demanded, and color 

 as above stated." Rev. G-. P. Hudson 

 bred wonders of the White variety in 

 those early days, and he wrote that 

 yellow beaks and feet were quite an 

 objection. 



In breeding Black Rose Combs at. 

 this time the dull color of former days 

 is not allowable in the female. It 

 must be as in the male — lustrous black. 

 To obtain this rick black with beetle 

 green sheen in our females requires 

 special breeding. A rich, true colored 

 male must be mated to dull colored 

 females to produce the best col- 

 ored males. These same males mat- 

 ed to rich colored females pro- 

 duce fine females, but the males 

 will show red in hackle and saddle and on wings. 

 Male birds so bred should be reserved for puUeit breed- 

 ing only. To get the very best results, you must make 

 special matings for both males and females. In selecting 

 breeding stock special attention must be given to the quality 

 of comb on both male and females. Look well for good 

 shape, spikes and peaks, for no matter how good otherwise, 

 a bad comb kills the appearance. Do not encourage bad 

 lobes by breeding from either a male or female having them^ 

 for no fault will grow faster with as little encouragement. 

 Do not pen more than four females with the male; three is^ 

 better. If these points are well looked after and your birda, 

 are right in form, carriage and color, quite a large per cent 

 of good chicks should be the result of such matings. Sep- 

 arate mating is not required for the production of males 

 or females in the Whites. If comb, ear-lobe, color and form 

 qualities are right they should breed fine specimens, but we 



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