376 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
MALAY BANTAMS. 
The Malay Bantams resemble to a certain extent the Game Bantams in shape, habits, and hardness of 
feather, yet they have many distinguishing points clearly defined from the Game Bantam. The late Mr. W. 
F. Entwisle, of Yorkshire, England, was the original producer of the Malay, Indian, and Aseel Bantams, 
devoting many years of patient study and perseverance to the object. How well he has succeeded is a 
lasting tribute and monument to his memory. The three varieties mentioned, and which are bred by 
numerous admirers throughout the world, are all descended from the birds bred down by Mr. W. F. 
Entwisle. 
The Malay Bantam is at present the chief favourite of the three, and is bred in five different colours, 
viz., White, Pile, Dark-Red, Bright-Red, and Pheasant, and of these the latter and the Whites are the chief 
favourites In shape, gait, and swagger they are the counterparts of the large Malay, with the exception of 
scarcely being so heavy and beetle-browed in proportion, but this point is gradually being improved. In size 
they are a little larger than the Game Bantam, being stouter built, stand more rakish, have broader shoulders, 
narrower sterns, more drooping in the tail, covered with a great many more narrower and wirier side sickles 
than the Game Bantam. The whole of the Malay Bantams have pearl or yellow eyes, strawberry or 
half-walnut combs, and the brightest orange-coloured legs and beaks. They have the same characteristic 
curves of the large Malay, formed by neck, back, and tail, and are, in fact, if good specimens, genuine Malays 
in miniature. This breed possesses some advantages over the Game varieties, in addition to quite equalling 
them in colour, and variety of plumage, their bright legs and beaks setting the plumage off to great advantage. 
Their combs do not grow out of shape ; the cocks never require dubbing ; their ear-lobes never 
require removing, as they are ahvavs red. This cannot be said of the Game Bantam, in many cases, until 
after the application of the scissors. They are quickly and easily prepared for the Show pen, only requiring 
their faces, combs, and feet washed, and are easily tamed and trained for the Show pen. One feature in the 
Malay Bantams is their extremely hardy constitution and the vigour of the stock birds. The eggs hatch well, 
and the chickens are fit for the Show pen at five months old. The hens are excellent sitters and mothers, 
rearing their own chickens admirably. 
The hens do not lay a large number of eggs at a batch, but they are a good size and pointed at one 
end, rarely exceeding the small number of eleven, but if broken off the broodiness will begin laying again 
shortly, and if allowed to sit will hatch out three broods during the season. The Black-Reds are of two 
shades, known as Dark-Reds and Bright-Reds. The Dark-Red cock has a deep red hackle and saddle, dark 
purplish crimson or maroon back, wing-bows, and shoulder coverts, the rest of the plumage being raven black 
of a lustrous shade. The hen is dark bay in hackle ; the body, wings, and breast are wheaten or cinnamon, 
as even and unbroken in shade as possible. This class of bird breeds exceptionally true to colour — both 
cockerels and pullets. The Bright-Red Malays are in colour a shade or two darker than the Black-Red 
Game Bantams, the hen's hackle and head feathers being much darker than the Black-Red Game Bantam 
hen. This colour also breeds both sexes very true. 
The Pheasant-Malay is marked exactly like the large Cornish-Indian Game, the cock's hackle being raven 
black, with maroon shafts and centres to the feathers; the breast, tail, and under-parts, a lustrous raven black ; 
dark maroon wing-bows ; the back and saddle being black and maroon intermixed, the black predominating ; 
the secondaries, good sound, rich bay, well laced or lined with black on the edge of each feather. This is a 
point much sought after, and a cock mated in this manner may be depended upon to breed the best-laced 
pullets. The hen's head and neck feathers are a rich bluish-black ; breast, back, wings, and thighs, one 
uniform rich bay colour, each feather distinctly laced with concentric rings of rich bluish-black or beetle- 
green. In some specimens, one, two, or even three, lacings may be noticed on each feather, but the single 
lacing is far the most showy and attractive marking. 
Red-Piles are marked exactly like the Red-Pile Game Bantams, the top or red colour, however, running 
a little darker in the cocks, the hen's hackle and breast also being a shade or two darker than the Pile Game 
Bantam hen. 
