DOMESTIC POUITET. 



were let at him one at a time, and one at a ti. ae the valoi'ons 

 bird beat four out of his five antagonists. His great exertions, 

 however, left hiTn in a pitiable condition, so that his fifth and 

 last enemy, on entering the pit, found him lying on his side, 

 quite worn out. His pugnacity, however, was by no means 

 subdued. He allowed the new comer to approach, even to fiap 

 his wings and crow over his bloodless victory ; and then, stiU 

 prostrate, he struck out with his terrible steel-tipped heel, 

 piercing the brain of his last adversary. The savage stroke, 

 however, cost him his life, and both birds were taken up dead. 



He likewise told me the terrible story of John Ardesoif, who, 

 in the spring of 1789, fought his game cook, " Hercules," 

 against another. Hercules, however, declined to fight, which 

 so infuriated the wicked Ardesoif that he swore a terrible oath 

 to roast the recreant cock ahve. He even proceeded to execute 

 his diaboHcal threat, and, when interfered with, became a raving 

 madman, and fell down dead ! 



No one will dispute that for beauty, animation, plumage, 

 and courage, the bantam is entitled to rank next to the game- 

 fowl. The bantam is undoubtedly a descendant of the Banksia 

 Jungle-fowl of Java, to which bird it bears a strong resem- 

 blance. In 1608 the English erected a factory at Bantam in 

 Java, which was our first possession in the East Indies. 

 While there, the natives brought, and sold to the British, se- 

 veral specimens of the wild-fowl above-mentioned, which were 

 much admired for their hliputian-hke elegance, and were sent 

 to England under the appellation of bantam-fowl. They soon 

 became great favourites here, and the name, which was at first 

 exclusively given to these birds was, after a time, given to all 

 domestic and dwarf fowls. The choicest sorts are the buff-co- 

 loured, and those that are entirely black. A year-old bantam 

 cock of pure breed will not weigh more than sixteen ounces. 

 Despite its small size, however, 

 it is marvellously bold, especially 

 in defence of its progeny. A 

 friend of the writer's, residing at 

 Kensington, possessed a pair of 

 thorough-bred bantams, that ' 

 were allowed the range of a yard 

 where a fierce bull-terrier was 

 kennelled. The hen had chicks ; ^^^^^^ bantams. 



and, when about three weeks old, 

 one of them strayed into the dog-kennel. The grim beast within 



