282 FANCIERS’ 
JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 


and attention than the Norwich, but they amply repay this, 
as a really good, healthy Belgian canary, bred by one’s self, 
is something to be proud of. There is quite as much differ- 
ence between a Belgian and Norwich as between an Arab 
and a cart-horse. They are also birds of position, and are 
not judged for color, although it is of course an advantage 
when combined with other good points; and consequently, 
the Belgian exhibitor is not brought into contact with those 
people who exhibit artificially colored birds, and he has more 
chance of a fair award, although there are nefarious prac- 
tices adopted even with Belgians to get them up for show. 
The bird depicted in the engraving is a buff cock, two years 
old. He was exhibited at the last Crystal Palace show by 
Mr. Heneage Gibbes, where he was awarded first prize, 
having previously taken first prize at Southampton. He is 
a very strong healthy bird, and is, with some others, the 
foundation of what it is hoped will prove a thorough strong 
healthy strain of English-bred Belgian canaries. There is 
every prospect of it at present, and with the mild climate of 
the south of England, there is little doubt of ultimate suc- 
cess.—Poultry Review. 

= 

(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
BANTAMS. 
Wuo does not admire the plucky little Bantam cock, 
strutting proudly around the narrow limits of his pen? 
And his crow? Jumping upon the highest object in his 
yard, he nearly falls backward in endeavoring to stand 
straighter, crow louder and longer than the Brahma cock 
in the neighboring pen. 
We had in our possession a pair of common Bantams, which 
we allowed to run with a flock of Leghorns. The next day 
after the Bantam cock was set at liberty he had fought and 
conquered the Leghorn cock, and was leading the flock of 
hens around, like a full-bred Game cock, while their former 
lord, the Leghorn cock, was trembling in the distance. As 
we did not care to set any eggs from these Leghorn hens, we 
allowed the Bantam to play the lord and master over them. 
But this state of affairs did not last long, for one day the 
‘Leghorn cock gathered together the remnants of his courage, 
fought, and severely whipped the little Bantam, and took his 
place once again in the flock. So ended the brief but 
glorious career of the little Bantam. Ever after his defeat 
he kept shy of the victor, and remained in the society of his 
demure little mate; although when he caught a hen straying 
frém the flock he would play the tyrant over her till the 
Leghorn cock came to her assistance, and then, thinking 
‘discretion the better part of valor,’ he would invariably 
flee. : 
Bantams are not only ornamental, but useful; and fami- 
lies living in the city, not having yards of sufficient size to 
raise larger fowls, will find that a flock of Bantams will 
keep them in eggs and ‘spring chickens.’’ Their flesh 
makes up in anaiey what it lacks in quantity. Their eggs, 
though small, are most excellent eating. 
The different varieties of Bantams are numerous, some of 
which we give: White, Black, Black African, Golden Se- 
bright, Silver Sebright, Black Red Game, Duckwing Game, 
Japan Bantams, &e. 
For table use we would recommend the White, and for 
pets the Sebright Bantams, though some say the eggs from 
the latter variety are apt to prove unfertile—and so will 
every egg that has been dipped in hot water, shaken, ora 

long needle pierced through it, as nine out of every dozen 
eggs you buy from some unprincipled dealers are served. 
A house for Bantams on the same plan as that used for 
larger breeds, but smaller, will answer. 
Feed them twice a day on crushed corn, wheat or oats, 
given alternately, with once a week oatmeal well seasoned 
with cayenne pepper. Fresh water costs nothing, and 
should be given every day, and oftener if possible. 
Pav. Loatc. 

(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
MEADOW MICE. 
Boys residing in the country often catch meadow mice 
and confine them as pets. Indeed they do make nice pets. 
Their queer-shaped heads, their clumsy antics, and their 
funny little squeak, afford much innocent amusement. 
An excellent cage for them may be made as follows: In- 
close a plat of ground five feet square by wire netting. 
Roof this inclosure over with the same material, or your 
pets will climb up the sides of the cage and make their 
escape at the top. In the centre of this inclosed plat sink 
an empty dry-goods box to a level with the ground, and fill 
it with mellow soil. Board over all the open ground, so 
that they can burrow nowhere but in the box. Your cage 
is now ready to receive its occupants. During: the first 
night of their captivity the mice will burrow in the box. Put 
in their cage some dry corn-silk, of which to make their 
nests. 
Feed them solely upon corn grains, and be sure to give 
them fresh water at least once a day. 
The same kind of a cage as the one described above will 
do in which to confine any kind of burrowing animal. 
PHILO. 

(For Fanciers’ Journal.) 
GOLD FISH IN A GLOBE. 
Fitt your globe one-tenth full of well-washed bar sand. 
Scatter a few small rocks about the bottom. Fasten to the 
largest rock a piece of ‘‘river weed.”’ Fill the globe two- 
thirds full of water, and put in the gold fish. Feed them, 
once a week only, on wheat flour and milk mixed to the 
consistency of putty. If you live near a slaughter-house 
use blood in preference to milk. When the water needs 
changing the fish will rise to the surface and gasp. Never 
change the water until they do this. PHILO. 


Catwloques, Giveulars, and Gards of Breeders 
Hecewed. 
Jno. S. Ives, Salem, Mass.—Eggs for hatching from a 
specialty of four varieties, Asiatic. 
JAMES SHEPARD’S descriptive circular of Fancy Fowls. 
8 plates, photo-litho-illustrations. Bristol, Conn. 
W. T. Rogers, Doylestown, Pa.—Fancy Poultry price 
list and Eggs. 
S. Merry, Ilion, N. Y.—Circular. 
Brahmas, Buff and Partridge Cochins. 
K. G. Runnewts, Hopkinton, N. H.—Fanecy Fowls, 
Plymouth Rocks, and Brown Leghorns a specialty. 
Breeder of Light 
J. BoaRDMAN SmitTuH, North Haven, Conn. can ee -Leg- 
horn Fowls and Eggs. "P.O. Box 28. 
N. GuILBERT, Gwynedd, Pa.—Price list Fancy podtegs 
Pigs, Sheep, and Pets. 
