THE POULTHY BOOK. 
253 
Tins combination is very elegant, and is rarely passed over witliout notice by tlic 
judges at the poultry shows. 
In addition to these varieties some small Frizzled-feathered Bantams have also 
been introduced from Japan. 
NANKIN BANTAMS, ETC. 
Before the advent of Poultry shows had led fanciers to look for breeds charac- 
terized by strongly-marked and very distinctive peculiarities, several varieties of 
Bantams were to be found in different districts of the country. Some short- 
legged breeds were known as Creepers, or Jumpers, from the nature of the 
locomotion necessitated by the extreme shortness of their shanks ; others were 
named from the marks upon their feathers, as the Spangled and Partridge 
Bantams. 
At the present time a variety of a slaty, or blue-dun colour, closely approach- 
ing that of the Andalusian Fowl, or blue-dun Game Fowl, are sometimes 
exhibited, under the name of Fly-fishers, probably from the fact that their slate- 
coloured hackle-feathers are in considerable demand amongst fishing-tackle makers, 
for the purpose of manufacturing artificial flies. 
One of the most common of the old Bantams was that known as the nankin or 
yellow breed. These, although now seldom exhibited, still have their admirers. 
Their prevailing colour is that of the pale orange yellow of the nankin cotton. 
The hens are usually slightly pencilled on the hackle ; and the cocks show an 
intermixture of darker colours on the wings and saddle, and a ivell- arched 
dark tail : they usually possess double or rose-combs, and dark unfeathered 
legs. 
Such are the principal varieties of Bantams at present known in this country. 
The different breeds have been so generally diffused that they have inter-bred not 
only with each other but with the smaller varieties of the ordinary fowls ; con- 
sequently there may be seen in many poultry yards mongrel Bantams of every 
conceivable variety, that possess no distinctive character beyond that of being 
more diminutive than the ordinary fowls. 
The chickens of almost all the varieties of Bantams are hardy, and sufficiently easy 
to rear, provided they are kept from wet during the first week or ten days of their 
lives, as at this early age the least dampness seems fatal to their well-doing. 
They do not require any particular dietary : a due supply of animal food in 
the shape of ants’ eggs, or, failing that, custard as advised for Dorkings, oatmeal, 
grits and small tail-wheat, will rapidly get them through all the difficulties of 
chickenhood. 
The hens are admirable sitters and mothers, and are generally chosen as foster 
parents of partridges it is wished to rear in a state of domestication. 
Even as profitable poultry Bantams are not destitute of merit ; in proportion to 
the amount of food they consume they furnish a very fair supply of eggs, which 
may be cooked on the breakfast-table by placing them in a basin and pouring 
