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The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
does not necessarily involve this consequence, though it is remarkable that in the most closely-bred 
variety — the Lancashire Mooney — which Mr. Beldon has stated to have been in his opinion 
perfected by close breeding out of the Yorkshire Pheasant, many sterile cocks were found. This 
in fact seems the real clue, and if we regard the hen-tail in this case as one of the signs of close 
breeding, all seems accounted for. The origin of the Laced Bantam we have already seen to 
have been almost as complex as that of Dr. Bennett’s “ Plymouth Rocks,” for the truth of the 
account we have quoted is manifest on its very face ; and, indeed, a simple comparison c>f the 
drawings of Sebright feathers with those of the Polish fowls previously given would of itself show 
conclusively where the lacing came from. Now a breed formed by such complex crosses can only 
be preserved by close in-breeding of the most severe character — far more severe than anything we 
have advised in other parts of this work — and there are few opportunities to get fresh blood. Add 
to this that the smallest and therefore weakest birds were selected, and the progress of sterility is 
only too satisfactorily accounted for. 
We have seen that long ago a cross with the Black Bantam was employed to remedy these 
growing evils, and it has been more than suspected that modern breeders have used the same 
expedient, though in some quarters it has been denied. The following interesting notes on 
Sebright Bantams, from the most successful breeder of the present day, Mr. Matthew Leno, of 
Dunstable, will however remove all doubt on this point. 
“ The breeding of the beautiful Gold and Silver Sebright (or Laced) Bantam, has from my 
youth greatly engrossed my attention. My commencement with the above was a present from the 
late Sir Thomas G. S. Sebright, Bart., of a trio of very beautiful birds ; this was about two years 
after the decease of the original producer of the Laced Bantam, viz., Sir John Sebright, Bart., 
and I assure you it was no small pleasure to find on my arrival at home one day such an 
unlooked-for present. Poultry-shows shortly after becoming very popular, I tried my hand at 
exhibiting them, and was successful in my first attempt, which prompted me to give my first 
fancy poultry every attention ; and I think I may be excused a little boasting in saying that 1 
have successfully exhibited the Laced Bantam ever since at most of the principal poultry 
exhibitions in the kingdom. 
“ It is a well-known fact that the lacing of the Sebright Bantam is very difficult to keep 
together ; I find on breeding them with clear tails, that the lacing on the breast and shoulders is 
mostly very indifferent. I have bred some of my best for evenness of lacing by introducing 
occasionally a Black Bantam cock to Laced hens, and in succeeding years breeding from the best 
cross-bred cockerel with Laced hens having no such stain amongst them. It takes several years 
to get the lacing good afterwards, but some of my best exhibition birds have been bred in the 
manner described ; the Black Bantam causes the tails to come rather dark, but the lacing otherwise 
most perfect ; the cross is also most useful in tending to make the Sebright Bantam more fertile. 
I have, in my earlier experience, had in some seasons only two or three chicks hatch out of 
as many hundred eggs, but since I have introduced the cross named I get plenty of fertile eggs; 
and although the cross produces the cloudy tail, I am recompensed by the superior lacing 
obtained. The breeding of Gold and Silver separately should not always be followed, as the 
Gold birds 1 colouring becomes too red. The breeding of the two colours together generally 
yields some splendid birds ; the produce will be both Gold and Silver, and not one in fifty will be 
half-and-half colour. 
“ They lay a large number of eggs, and are easily reared. It is a fact well-known to me that 
many chickens are killed by what I term ‘too great kindness many commence to stuff them with 
too large a quantity of egg food. I use nothing but barley-meal, a sprinkling of oatmeal, and 
