Schedule eor Judging Santa ms. 
4*5 
judge has to consider, and a really small and small-looking bird, if in hard condition and health, 
will weigh more, for that very reason, than a far larger bird in poor health and loose feather. 
Especially is this the case with Game Bantams, as we have proved by experiment. We have taken 
an exquisite cup bird from his pen and found him weigh twenty-six ounces, while his next-door 
neighbour weighed only twenty-one and a half; yet the last bird was half as large again as the 
legitimate winner, and bad every way. By such an empirical scale the winning bird — all but perfect, 
and a gem even of smallness in spite of his weight — must have been disqualified in favour of the 
great loose-feathered brute which yet came within the scales. Weight is, in fact, no criterion 
whatever ; and even size, which is, is only one of the points to be considered, and no absolute limit 
can be laid down for it. 
So important is this subject — we should not have written so strongly upon it else — that 
we think it right to state that we submitted our views upon it to the late Mr. Hewitt ; and that 
most eminent judge — who had far more experience than all others put together — permitted us to 
say that he fully agreed with the views we have expressed. 
Our own schedules have been drav/n up with care ; and Bantams being shown much more 
than formerly, are more accurate than could have been the case some few years ago. 
SCHEDULE FOR JUDGING BLACK AND WHITE (CLEAN-LEGGED) BANTAMS. 
General Characteristics. — Precisely resembling the Hamburgh fowl, but on a diminutive scale. Weight of cocks sixteen 
to twenty-two ounces ; of hens, twelve to eighteen ounces. 
Colour of Black Bantams. — hi both Sexes— Beak black, or dark horn-colour; comb, face, and wattles, deep rich red; 
deaf-ears brilliant white ; eyes bright red ; legs a deep leaden- blue, approaching black ; plumage a deep rich black, brilliantly 
glossed with green. 
Colour of White Bantams. — In both Sexes — Beak white ; comb, face, and wattles, brilliant scarlet red ; deaf-ears white 
for English shows, but red for American shows [red preferable for appearance] ; eyes bright red ; legs white, or pinky white ; 
plumage a pure and spotless white, as free from sun-burn as possible. [Some consider black legs admissible, but most judges 
consider either black or yellow tantamount to disqualification]. 
VALUE OF DEFECTS IN JUDGING. 
Points of Merit. 
A bird, perfect in shape, style, colour, and con- 
dition, and not too large, to count in points . too 
For an extra small bird, otherwise good, see 
Note “. 
Defects to be Deducted. 
Bad comb ..... 
. 14 
Deaf-ear faulty in colour 
. . 16 
( in black . 
bad colour plumage 1 
f ,, white . 
. . 12 
. 18 
Squirrel-tail .... 
• '5 
Too great size. .... 
See Note a 
Want of general symmetry . 
. 15 
,, ,, condition. 
• 15 
« We have found, with birds in average condition, that eighteen ounces in cockerels and fifteen ounces in hens are what will 
fairly entitle birds to be called “perfect ;” and about one point should be deducted for the first ounce over this, two points the 
second ounce, three points the third ounce, and so on, the deductions for every ounce to be reckoned collectively, or added together, 
while two points per ounce may be credited for less weights. But, as already observed, individual birds differ much, and it is the 
apparent size usually denoted by these weights, and not the weights themselves, that are to be considered by the judge. 
Disqualifications. — Single combs ; wry-tails or any other deformity ; legs feathered, or any other colour than dark 
leaden-blue, black, or white, respectively ; deaf-ears entirely of the colour excluded by the Schedule. Any fraudulent dj-eing, 
dressing, or trimming. 
SCHEDULE FOR JUDGING LACED BANTAMS. 
General Characteristics of both Sexes. — General appearance of head brisk and jaunty ; beak rather short ■ 
comb double or rose, as neat as possible (most birds now shown have a clumsy comb, with the peak tending downward, which is 
very objectionable) ; wattles medium size, and well rounded ; deaf-ears medium, and flat or free from folds ; neck taper, and in the 
