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The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
little dripping added to it, and was spiced with pimento, and when quite cold I added a small 
portion of finely-ground oatmeal, the rice forming nice pellets, to which the oatmeal adhered when 
it was thrown on the ground. This, although very high feeding, supplied little bone-forming 
subsiance , and though the chicks remained small, they feathered well, and I have often had early- 
bred pullets laying at the age of sixteen weeks.” 
The regimen here described may of course be applied to any breed of Bantams. Stimulating 
and nourishing as it is, Mr. Hutton is quite correct in stating that upon the whole it contains 
little bone-forming substance, the only ingredient at all rich in this being the little oatmeal which 
adheres to the rice ; rice itself being practically destitute of such ingredients, and also the bread and 
milk, except what the milk contains — an almost infinitesimal quantity. Yet, while possessing these 
desirable qualities, it is rich and stimulating enough to carry the most delicate breed through either 
late or early seasons without difficulty. 
The best mothers for Bantam chicks are either birds of their own breeds or Silky hens. 
JUDGING BANTAMS. — In most breeds of Bantams there are certain points, such as the 
ear-lobes in Blacks, or the lacing and hen-tail in Sebrights, which are regarded as essential, and 
require primary attention at the hands, or rather the eyes, of the judge ; but beyond these a 
ge7ieral neatness and smartness of carriage and “ make-up ” are especially to be considered. The 
reason for this is very manifest. Bantams being — whatever their practical merits may be — regarded 
exclusively as ornamental poultry, the general effect to the eye, so far as compatible with what may 
be the conventional standard of the particular breed itself, has perhaps more weight than in any 
other variety of fowl. 
In connection with this point, and to avoid serious mistakes and consequent disappointment on 
the part of many amateurs, it is absolutely necessary to state that the old * “Standard of Excel- 
lence ” is, as regards Bantams, utterly unreliable and worthless. In all the scales for Bantam breeds 
treated of in that work there is a limit of weight given for each sex, beyond which the birds are 
stated to be “ disqualified,” that is, ipso facto thrown out even of competition. In the case of cocks, 
the limit is fixed as follows : Game Bantams, twenty-four ounces ; Sebrights, twenty ounces ; Black 
or White Bantams, twenty ounces ; excess over these weights being “ disqualification.” We have 
not the slightest hesitation in affirming that not only is this not the case, but that it has never been so 
amongst recognised English judges, and would disqualify more than half of the most celebrated 
winners. Nothing could more strongly show the absurdity we have before pointed out of merely 
empirical scales. So palpably true is what we state, that in the American “ Standard,” which usually 
follows the work named most closely, the limit of weight has perforce been extended — in the case of 
Sebright cocks no less than four ounces ; but even that, or any other absolute limit whatever, cannot 
be maintained. We ought to state that we are not expressing a mere opinion on this matter, 
which might differ from that of one holding different views ; it is a simple matter of fact, and 
we speak from actual test — as applied to awards by every judge at all recognised in the 
poultry world. Bantams are never actually weighed now in competition ; but by the courtesy of 
committees we have been allowed to ascertain and compare actual weights after some awards ; we 
have been allowed to weigh other well-known birds in “their native home and in countless other 
cases we have estimated the weights by hand (and our hand has been acknowledged to be pretty 
accurate) ; and the result is, that the exceptions to the stated limit of weight are considerably 
more than the cases which fall within it ; and not only so, but as a rule comprise the very best 
birds. The rule is wrong even in principle ; for it is apparent size and not mere weight the 
* As this edition goes to press, the “ Poultry Club” is still engaged upon a new “ Standard.” 
