THE BANTAM FOWL. 



27 



of these feaitures are of vital importance 

 ■when placing an award for quality. 



BLACK COCHIN BANTAMS 



Black Cochin Bantams come next to the 

 BufCe, and here we shall again quote from 

 Mr. W. F. Entwisle, the noted English writer, 

 whose words far exceed our ability in de- 

 scribing them. He writes as follows: "In 

 Black Cochin Bantams, color of feather and 

 brilliancy of sheen very properly count 

 highly, quite as much so as color does in the 

 BulTs. The desired color is one of uniform, 

 lusitroufi beetle green, as seen in the Lang- 

 shan and Black Hamburgs to the greatest 

 perfection. The under-fluff should be black 

 down to the skin, but it is very rare that we 

 . can find a bird perfect in this respect. All 

 ' the points of head, face, wattles and ear- 

 lobes are the same as in all other Cochins, 

 bright red, neat, smooth and even. The eye 

 in the Black Cochin varies more than in any other 

 variety, some being very dark brown. This we think 

 as grave a fault as a white or pearl eye. We 

 think the eye of ' the Black Cochin should be red. 

 In breeding Blacks, it has often been noticed that it is very 

 difficult to obtain the most perfectly colored cockerels and 

 ■pullets from one pair of birds, the rule being that all the 

 most brilliant colored pullets' brothers have more or less 

 red feathers in their hackles, backs or saddles; whereas, all 

 the soundest and best Black cockerels' sisters are wanting 

 in luster or sheen, and look quite inferior in color to the 

 pullets bred the other way. 



"Where there is ample room for the purpose," Mr. Ent- 

 wisle tells us, "even in starting from one common parentage, 

 two distinct strains should be built up, the one for producing 

 cockerels free from red or straw colored feathers, and' using 

 for this purpose only the deadest black pullets or hens mated 

 with a sound black cock, and avoiding the more lustrous 

 hens or pullets. 



"And, on the other hand, we should select the most lus- 

 trous, beetle green winged and breasted cock, however much 

 red he shows in neck, back or wing, and mate him with the 



./OUKNAL .^' 



A PAIR OF BLACK COCHIN BANTAMS. 



GOLD DUST CHAMPION, 

 BUFF COCHIN BANTAM, BRED BY T. F. McGREW. 



most brilliantly colored hens or pullets, provided always 

 that other essential points were sufficiently in evidence." 

 The writer has demonstrated to his own satisfaction that 

 good colored males and females can be produced from the 

 same matings when good colors only are used. With us in 

 America, our motto is good color, surface and under-color. 

 This rule, properly followed, the desired end will be gained. 

 The proper handling of all Black fowls depends largely 

 upon the true color of the male. If the male bird is a cock 

 bird of true color the chances are that, a large per cent of 

 his chicks will be true to color. In selecting breeding stock 

 of Black Cochin Bantams go down to the very skin in neck, 

 back and breast feathers; also look well to color of wings 

 at the very point where they come from the flesh. If the 

 color is dark clear to the skin it can be depended upon. No 

 strain of black fowls ever produced all of its chicks pure, 

 .black. Some produce quite a large proportion of pure black 

 females, but few produce true colored males, and these in 

 turn produce but a small per cent that are perfect in color. 

 This can be improved year by year if only cock birds of the 

 truest color are used, for you can place dependence on the 

 reproducing of true color if the sire himself is a two-year- 

 old. The more of the bright lustrous sheen on your breeding 

 stock the better. Even if they produce some offspring with 

 red cast in plumage, it is far better to inaintain the rich 

 beetle green with a per cent of birds with reddish cast than 

 to lose the color and have white. Both Black and White 

 Cochin Bantams have a tendency to white in ear-lobes. This 

 should b0 guarded against with great care. It usually comes 

 with the very best specimens and the temptation to use 

 them often overcomes our better judgment and stamps the 

 fault upon the flock. This takes years to get rid of. Better 

 keep it out than be compelled to breed it out. 



We consider yellow legs a mistake on Black Cochin Ban- 

 tams. If you have on your birds yellow legs and white in 

 neck and ear-lobes, you may be certain the blood is bad and 

 you need not hope for pure black in plumage. Better discard 

 your whole flock and begin again with a few well selected 

 birds from some well established strain that has perfect 

 color of ear-lobe and plumage, with dark colored legs, the 

 darker the better, just so they, show yellow inside of feet. 

 II we hope to establish a pure, solid black plumage, we must 

 get rid ot all the yellow possible in every part of the bird. 

 They are not a utility fowl, so give them all the advantage 

 possible in color. 



As to the point of overcoming one fault by extra good 



