iL'MLzL 
&m harvest. 
but through the efforts of the fanciers, they 
are now bred true to a certain line of mark¬ 
ings, and a dark colored feather on a Wldte 
Cochin would be considered prima facie 
evidence of impure blood. Their great size 
and weight, combined, with quiet demean¬ 
or, make these fowls general favorites 
among those who raise poultry for market. 
Ten pounds is no uncommon weight for a 
cock of a year old. and they frequently 
weigh more than that. The most popular 
varieties at present, are the White. Buff 
and Partridge Cochins. Light arid Dark 
Brahmas, and the Langslian. The latter 
is a noble bird having line glossy black 
plumage with a bright metallic lustre, 
large comb and tail, and is an excellent 
layer. The others are too well known to 
need a description here. There are proba¬ 
bly more breeders of the Light Brahmas in 
the United States than of any other fowl, 
and those whojnvest in them are not often 
disappointed. 
DARK BRAHMAS. 
I have now briefly noted the different 
fowls generally kept for eggs and market, 
but there are ; several other breeds kept by 
fanciers that have especial points of merit. 
Among these are the Games, which are not 
only noted for their peculiar inclination to 
“rule the roost/' but some of them are most 
excellent layers as •well. There are so 
many varieties of Games, that it js almost 
impossible to give a description or even 
name them all. They are generally of fair 
size, tough and hardy, but on account of 
the dark color of their flesh are not as well 
liked for market as other varieties. They 
have small wings, clean legs and are gen- 
erallv destitute of combs. They are active 
and vigilant and the liens make excellent 
mothers. The Duck wing Game Bantams 
are very active little fellows and permit no 
intruders on their domain. They, as well 
as the other Bantams, make excellent little 
pets for children and are very ornamental 
on the lawm. The Bantams are good layers 
but their eggs are too small to be profitable 
to the consume!-. 
DUCKWING GAME BANTAMS. 
I have been asked which are the best 
poultry books and journals. There are 
many good books. Johnson’s Practical 
Poultry Keeping , from which I have bor¬ 
rowed the engravings in this article, is one 
of the best. The Poultry Monthly . pub¬ 
lished at Albany. N. Y., The Poultry 
World , Hartford, Conn., and The Poultry 
Bidletin of 62 Court land St., N. Y., are 
among the best of the numerous papers 
devoted to poultry and pet stock. 
Connoisseur. 
-- — - 
The boy stood on the back yard fence, 
whence all but him had fled. The flames 
that lit his father’s barn shone just above 
the shed. One bunch of crackers in his 
hand, two others in his hat: with piteous 
accent loud he cried. “I never thought of 
that!” A bunch of crackers to the tail of a 
small dog he’d tied. The sparks flew^ 
! wide and red and hot. they lit upon the 
! brat: they tired the crackers in his hand 
and lit those in his hat. Then came a 
burst of rattling sound—the boy. where 
| was he gone? Ask oi the w inds that lar 
! around strewed bits of meat and bone and 
scraps of clothes and balls and top and 
nails and books, and yarn and relics of 
I that dreadful boy that burned his father’s 
j barn. 
—Isn't this number worth all it cost you? 
