Live Stock. 



226 



[March, 1912. 



first consideration, and in the order 

 named. It will also be found that, in 

 many of the varieties, head-points count 

 for more than in their larger counter- 

 parts, e.g., in Minorca Bantams, defects 

 in comb count 30 points, while in the 

 larger it is 15 ; in Leghorn Bantams, 20 ; 

 in the larger, 12. The reason lor this is, 

 that, in breeding the smaller birds, 

 breeds with rose combs, cr peculiar 

 combs like the Silkie, have been in- 

 troduced, and perfect combs are more 

 difficult of attainment. The same 

 general rule naturally applies through- 

 out, viz., that, where any feature is 

 most difficult to obtain, it scores the 

 highest number of points. In no single 

 instance do the points count exactly the 

 same in the larger aud the smaller races, 

 although the aim of the Bantam breeder 

 is to produce a copy in miniature. In 

 one case it is size ; in the other shape or 

 colour ; in others, wealth of feather is 

 most difficult to attain in foot and shank 

 or tail. It is therefore necessary for the 

 amateur breeder to know which poiuts 

 are most important for the time being, 

 and not to despise a Bantam for a failing 

 which would at once put the larger 

 breed out of court. 



Bantam breeders guard their secrets 

 more jealously than any others, and the 

 methods by which the various breeds 

 have been bantamised, and brought to 

 the measure of perfection they have 

 attained, are not the popular possession 

 of the Fancy, and there is no book that 

 goes into the details of the matter. 



The most popular varieties are the 

 Game Bantams, the Black Rose-comb, 

 the Sebright and the Pekin in its 

 various colours ; though there are many 

 charming minor varieties fast gaining 

 ground, among which the Brahma 

 Bantam takes a foremost place. Of 

 these, the Sebright has no large name- 

 sake, and this distinction is shared by 

 other breeds, such as the Booted Bantam 

 and the Japanese. 



The Game Bantam is a copy in mini- 

 ature of its elders, and exists in nearly 

 all its varieties. The small size and the 

 fineness of bone are two of its most 

 difficult attainments. The weight for 

 moderns is 20 oz. for cockerels and 24 oz. 

 for cocks ; for pullets 18 oz., and hens 

 20 oz. The various 'points" are fairly 

 equally divided between size, type, 

 colour, and feather. Coarseness is a 

 great fault. The feather should be short 

 and the bone light. Shortness and com- 



{jactness of body with great reach of 

 imbs are essentials. The Black-Reds 

 are the most popular, and a good speci- 

 men realises a high figure. Piles are 

 sometimes victorious over the other 



colours, and are marvels of colour and 

 daintiness. Birchens are more difficult 

 to keep small, but are very attractive, 

 while their counter-parts, the Brown- 

 reds, are as difficult as any to breed to 

 colour. A good game Bantam cockerel, 

 with its erect carriage and finely-drawn 

 body is the daintiest creature imagin- 

 able. 



Old English Bantams follow the 

 moderns closely in the race for popul- 

 arity and, as the good ones are not in as 

 few hands, and are later in origin, they 

 are rising in demand. The Spangle is, 

 perhaps, the most popular. The Black- 

 Reds are very attractive, but for quaint- 

 ness of colour the Blue-Reds take the 

 first place. They are as small in weight 

 but shorter in build, and more bulky in 

 body than the moderns. 



Rose-combed Bantams are very popular, 

 especially the black variety. They 

 resemble the Black Hamburgh in style 

 and shape, A good colour, and a wealth 

 of broad sickles are prominent features, 

 while the comb and ear-lobes count 

 for 33 per cent, of the marks. The 

 trimming of Hamburghs' combs, a9 

 usually practised, is said to apply with 

 even greater force to the Bantams. If 

 the patience and skill which are devoted 

 to the manipulation of combs were 

 applied to breeding them, and due 

 allowance made for minor defects for a 

 time, the need for trimming would 

 die a nutural death. As it is, a clever 

 faker escapes, and the clumsy hand is 

 penalised; while the novice and the man 

 who would exhibit his stock as nature 

 made them is discouraged. In breeding, 

 great care should be exercised to select 

 a cock that has been bred with a good 

 comb, neat in size, square in front, and 

 the top " crowded with little round 

 spikes," which have not been multiplied 

 by the trimmer's dividing knife, nor cut 

 off at the side where they are apt to 

 overhang. If a trimmed comb would 

 breed its " like," something could be said 

 for it, but where " cut and come again " 

 is so fruitful in a wrong direction the 

 practice is deplorable. For diminution 

 in size, the smallest hen that will breed 

 should be selected, the cock being the 

 fount of colour and style, and the hen 

 of stamina and size. 



The White Rose-comb is very pretty, 

 but not bred so near to perfection nor 

 so popular as the black. 



(To be continued.) 



