Malay Bantams . 
493 
Mr. Entwisle, it will be seen, prefers the even scale of ioo points; and we may, perhaps, here 
reply to several of our readers who have seemed at a loss to understand why in our scales the 
defects, if all added up, do not even profess to balance the value of a perfect bird. We can only 
refer to our arguments on this head at page 228, with the added remark that even the list of 
“disqualifications” in any scale is a list of faults extra to the 100 points; and that if it be 
necessary the added points should sum up exactly 100, and — as often happens — what has hitherto 
been only considered a fault is advanced to the rank of disqiialification (as, for instance, crest in 
La Fleche) ; the scale must in that case be altered , in order that the remaining points may still add 
up 100. This, if accuracy be the end of a scale, is absurd. Again, in the case of some breeds 
which have fewer characteristics, greater values must in the case of 100 points be given to those 
few characteristics in proportion to other breeds, in order that the total may “fill” the scale ; for 
instance, any black variety, having less points for plumage than a coloured or marked one, the 
comb or similar points must have more value given them in order to balance. This too is absurd, 
and contrary to fact. To facts, indeed, we appeal. We began with attempts to keep to 100 
points, but all our analyses pointed to the conclusion that the principle was wrong; and though 
we could with no difficulty reduce all our scales to exactly IOO, it would be to ensure an altogether 
artificial “ symmetry,” at the expense of accuracy. Comparison of our schedules with those 
adopted by the Poultry Club, before a number of actual pens of birds, will in many cases demon- 
strate this with sufficient clearness, though it is of necessity much more apparent in some cases 
than others, and Game Bantams have so many properties that in their particular case the difficulty 
is little felt. 
MALAY BANTAMS. — These Bantams are a quite recent creation of Mr. Entwisle himself, 
and the breed certainly appears to stand out from the recent crowd of dwarfed varieties as 
peculiarly suitable , as it were, for Bantam proportions, which cannot be said for some of them. An 
article published on the subject relates the method of procedure adopted. After many fruitless 
attempts to obtain fertile eggs from a cross between large Malays and Game Bantams, at last one 
hen’s eggs were found fertile, and from her eggs was the whole stock raised. This long failure, and at 
last one exceptional success, may be a useful hint in similar cases, and is not the only instance of 
the kind. Indeed, where there are any unusual difficulties in breeding, a long course of failure 
is to be expected, before perhaps even a casual success may be sufficient for the purposes of the 
experimentalist. Aseels and the common Indian Game were afterwards used ; and should any 
enterprising fancier desire to produce Malay Bantams de novo , Mr. Entwisle recommends the 
following procedure as likely, from his experience, to produce the quickest and most satisfactory 
results. He would, he says, cross a typical Malay cock with a couple of the smallest Aseel hens 
procurable, selecting of the progeny the most typical heads and strawberry combs. The smallest 
of such cockerels mated again with the Aseel hens should produce some small enough for the 
cockerels to mate with Game Bantam hens, and the pullets with Malay Bantam cocks ; and then 
by choosing only small birds with good heads and combs, the Malay type will be kept up. 
Few would, however, care to re-make the breed, when excellent stock is now distributed all over 
the country, needing little but the avoidance and breeding out of Game Bantam points. 
These birds should be judged by all the points of Malays, substituting smallness for size. 
Good colours should, however, be studied, and allowed more weight in judging. Pheasant (glossy) 
Malays have occasionally been shown, and are very beautiful. 
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