482 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
but they only want hunting up, and a class or two offered for them, to appear in the same numbers 
as the other varieties. For exhibition they only want to be sent out quite clean, but in washing 
them great care must be taken, or they will be overcome by their bath, and soon die. Their heads 
should never be put under water under any circumstances.” 
W e need only add that the Booted Bantam does little injury in the garden at any time of 
the year. We doubt, in fact, if it does any ; the long feather on the legs appearing almost, if not 
altogether, to prevent its scratching. This point may be a strong recommendation to some, who 
dislike keeping their pets confined ; cannot afford a good open run ; like to see their gardens 
tidy ; and yet — inconsistent mortals — want to keep fowls. These are the very birds for them : and 
no prettier sight can be imagined than half a dozen of these little snowballs walking about among 
the flower-beds, and when called, standing still to cock their heads at their owner just like pet 
canaries. 
Black Booted Bantams resemble the Whites in all but colour, but we never saw any with 
other than single combs ; which is, indeed, now accepted as correct for both colours. The longer 
the shank-feather is, the better ; in good specimens it will reach or exceed six inches, and is of 
course accompanied by vulture-hock. Great care is necessary, as described for Cochins, to preserve 
the feather when these birds are kept for exhibition ; grass being kept carefully mown close, and 
all rough stones and gravel being kept out of the dusting-places. Wet also must be carefully 
guarded against. 
Splashes or mottles are also seen ; and all the varieties with muffs and whiskers, as well as 
without. The first of this latter class we ever saw were at Mr. Beldon’s, in 1871. They were 
imported from Germany, and in addition to the vulture-hocks and feathered legs, had good muffs 
or whiskers, which gave a very quaint appearance. The combs were of a small and neat Cochin 
shape, while the short legs, fluff, broad saddles, and small tails, all partook of the Cochin or 
Pekin Bantam type, to which they no doubt belonged. 
VARIOUS NEW BANTAMS. — During the last few years there has been a strange out- 
burst of “new” varieties of Bantams, which now embrace nearly, if not quite, all the large breeds of 
poultry. One of the most prolific creators of this class of fowls has been Mr. W. F. Entwisle, from 
whose yards have come Dark and Light Brahmas, all colours in Cochins, Malays, Indian Game, 
Polish of all varieties, and Sultans. These were obtained in most cases by “breeding down” from 
the parent breeds — i.e., choosing for stock the smallest specimens obtained by late breeding — with 
an occasional Bantam cross. From a kind of Burmese Bantams crossed with Phoenix or Japanese 
Loner-tailed fowls, Mr. Entwisle produced the crested and bearded, short-legged and feathered 
long-tailed Bantams, which have won at several shows as “ improved Burmese.” Minorcas, 
Andalusians, Leghorns, and several kinds of Hamburghs have also been shown as Bantams, and 
we have seen tolerable Silver-grey Dorkings and White Creves. Rumpless laced Bantams were 
also shown by Mr. Garnett at the Crystal Palace Show of 1889. 
As regards feather and other properties, these Bantams will have to be selected upon similar 
principles to their larger relatives ; but owing to their recent origin, special care will need to be 
taken to prevent natural reversion to the original larger size. So far as any Bantam crosses have 
been employed, a propensity to mis-marking will also trouble the breeder. These two difficulties 
constantly baffle the fancier for many generations, and make any certainty in breeding these 
varieties true to points a very dubious matter indeed, though a single pen fit for exhibition may be 
obtained after perhaps two or three crosses. For these reasons it is perhaps doubtful whether 
the further multiplication of such Bantam varieties is much to be desired, though no doubt it can 
