Cochin , Cuckoo , Japanese Bantams. 
473 
China’s Summer Palace, from which place he sent them along with some other things. I have had 
them ever since that time, and have never had any trouble in breeding them until last year, when 
I had many bad eggs. This year, I am sorry to say, I have had worse luck still, as two hens died 
on their nests while sitting, and I cannot discover the cause. The eggs of the third were all bad, 
so that my stock is much reduced. I begin to think it must be from want of a cross, as I have 
never from the first had one of any sort, though never till now with any apparent ill effect. I have 
only treated them the same as my other poultry.” 
Nearly if not quite all the original stock above described ultimately died out from the 
reasons stated ; but other stock was subsequently obtained from China by Messrs. Baily and Son. 
A fine importation of Blacks was made in 1884, and other birds have been imported since. These 
have been crossed by Mr. W. F. Entwisle, and perhaps others, with actual Cochins (in that 
gentleman’s case bred down from Lady Gwydyr’s strain), and we are very glad to say that the 
result of all this mixture of blood has been a very strong stock, now spread pretty well over the 
kingdom. Buffs and Blacks are still the strongest strains, but the other colours have also been 
bred down and crossed ; and at the Crystal Palace Show of 1889, Cochin Bantams were shown of 
all the standard colours. As many of them have little to do with Pekin, it seems better to drop 
that name in future, and call them Cochin Bantams simply. 
These Bantams, as a rule, are still larger than the average, and need careful feeding and 
breeding down to keep the tendency in check. The “ points ” of many of them, however, are now 
very good indeed, and the Partridges are especially pretty and quaint-looking. Feather-breeding 
will be as in the large varieties, and the variety of blood now obtainable makes breeding them 
comparatively easy, without any of those dangers from enforced in-breeding formerly encountered. 
The chief difficulty is to keep down the size. Hints on feeding Bantams with a view to small size 
will be found on pp. 484 and 485, from the pen of Mr. Hutton. 
CUCKOO BANTAMS. — A rather pretty breed of Bantams is known by this name, of a 
Cuckoo or Dominique colour. They have been stated to have been introduced by a gentleman in 
Yorkshire, and there is very little doubt that his stock was really produced quite independently; 
but they were known in Scotland for some time previously, having been sent out by Mr. Mitchell, 
of Paisley, at least as early as 1866, when Mr. Beldon received a pair , from him. They are 
miniature Scotch Greys in every point, having white legs and single combs, and hence are known 
in Scotland as the Scotch Grey Bantam. Another variety of Cuckoo Bantam is shown 
occasionally with rose-combs. These have, in our opinion, been probably produced by crossing 
the Black rose-combed Bantam with the White ; the cross of these colours usually producing, as 
we have often remarked, a certain proportion of each colour pure, a certain proportion of a slaty 
blue or Andalusian colour, and a certain proportion with the Cuckoo marking in question. 
JAPANESE BANTAMS. — Since intercourse was freely opened between Europe and Japan 
several striking breeds of Bantams have been introduced from that country, all having the 
common features of single combs, and very short legs, with thick “dumpy-looking” bodies. 
The most popular variety at present seems to be one with white bodies and black tails ; the 
tail of the cock being of a. very peculiar character. The sickles are very long,- and carried upright 
or over the back, but being little curved, present a very strange sword-like character. This and 
* ■» ' \ • 
other general characters may be seen in the plate, which represents well-known birds of this variety 
exhibited by Mrs. Woodcock, of Rearsby House, Leicester. The same lady has kindly supplied 
the following practical remarks : — 
