BOIOiSIIC FOULTBT. 



game lOvl, lias liad the great misfortune to lose his little son, 

 a boy of three yebxs' old, who was attacked by a game cook, 

 and so severely injured that he died shortly afterwards." The 

 writer before quoted says: — " Size is not a point of merit in 

 the game fowl; the cocks weigh three and a half pounds and 

 upwards, and the hens are in proportion. When in good con- 

 dition, the plumage is hard, crisp, close-fitting, and glossy." 

 Another well-known breeder gives ua the following rules to be 

 observed in the selection of this species. Of these fowl, he 

 Bays : — " The hen's head should be long, mandible very strong 

 and fairly set in the head, eyes very prominent, neck long and 

 graceful, square shoulders, broad chest, point of wings almost 

 meeting under the tail, — the latter adormnent must be close 

 and compact, not carried too erect or loose over the back, — 

 thigh short and muscular, legs long and free from feather, toes 

 well spread, feathers short and hard. These are the points of 

 a good game hen. We now come to her mate, the game cock. 

 Some breeders fancy one weight and some another ; but I pre- 

 fer my stock-bird of about five or six pounds weight. Choose 

 a bird of bold, defiant carriage, of good colour, head long and 

 slender, mandible strong, curved and well set in the head, very 

 stout at thi» base, full breast, round body, broad between the 

 shoulders, and tapering to the taU. In fact, he must resemble 

 the hen in all points, except in colour." 



Since the introduction of the bantam into Europe it has 

 ramified into many varieties, none of which are destitute of 

 elegance, while some, indeed, are remarkably beautiful. All 

 are, or ought to be, of small size, but lively and vigorous, 

 exhibiting in their movements both grace and statehness. The 

 feather-legged bantam is remarkable for the tcursi, or beams of 

 the legs, being plumed to the toes with stiff, long feathers, 

 which brush the ground. Owing, possibly, to the little care 

 taken to preserve this variety from admixture, it is now not 

 frequently seen. Another variety is often red, with a black 

 breast and single dentated comb. The ta/rsi are smooth, and 

 of a dusky blue. When this sort of bantam is pure, it yields 

 in courage and spirit to none, and is, in fact, a game-fowl in 

 miniature, being as beautiful and graceful as it is brave. A 

 pure white bantam, ],>ossessing aU the qualifications just 

 named, is also bred in the royal aviary at Windsor. 



Above all bantams is placed the celebrated and beautiful 

 breed called Sir John Sebright's silver bantams. This breed, 

 which Sir John brought to perfection after years of careful 



