FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
691 
pity them this hot weather. Two dreadful thunder storms 
passed over us last week, and while they last, my husband 
opens all the doors and windows, and then kneels in prayer; 
people can form little idea of these terrific storms. The 
dairy is oflf our kitchen, and I went in to procure some milk 
just as it was dark, and saw close to me something which I 
took to be a large rat at the butter. Next day this rat turned 
out to be a large black snake, the most deadly of all kinds. 
I escaped unhurt, thank God! Next day, down from the 
room above came tumbling two bandicoot rats, big ones ; 
they ran for their lives, and hearing a strange noise up- 
stairs, I went up, and there was a guana ; it was giving chase 
to the rats. This curious animal, something like a crocodile, 
will bite in self defence. It has a forked tongue like a snake, 
it will suck any quantity of eggs, and is most destructive in 
a fowl yard; there are plenty about here. To crown all, up 
came the cat with a deaf adder, not dead, I thought it was, 
and it looked such a curious beast, that I took a stick, for- 
tunately not my hand, to turn it over. It opened its mouth, 
and it would have been instant death had it bitten me. So 
ends the list of my troubles and fright for this month.” 
Should these relations prove of interest to your subscribers 
I shall be most happy to give you a description of Austra- 
lian bush fires and their consequences in a future issue. 
“ Viator.’ 
PodLJF^Y DEp^JJVIEflj. 
NOTES UPON THE LAST ISSUE. 
Editor Fanciers’ Journal: 
Not one “ pugnacious ” article in your last number ; this 
is an improvement. Your space can be better occupied than 
with the interminable bickerings we have had in the past; 
and whether or not any man’s opinion has been affected by 
the controversies which some of our best poultry writers 
have indulged in, in your columns (which you have so 
liberally allowed space for), is really after all of but little 
moment. The subjects written upon have been fully “ ven- 
tilated,” and we have now heard both sides very fairly; 
there let them rest. 
The story of the skye terrier “Silky ” was highly enter- 
taining. One of your constant youthful readers pronounced 
it “bully I ” and read it again and again. He is a boy of 
fourteen, only, but wants me to buy that dog at once. Is 
“Silky” for sale? I presume not, for the article does not 
look like an advertisement. I hope we shall have more 
articles of this character from your “ dog-fancier ” corres- 
pondent. The variety in such communications is a very 
acceptable change to many if not most of your readers, no 
doubt. 
The suggestions of Dr. A. M. Dickie, in reference to the 
great “ Centennial Exposition,” which occurs in Philadel- 
phia in 1876, are both timely and good. At the Doylestown 
or the Philadelphia State Poultry Shows, in December (or at 
both), preliminary steps could very appropriately be taken 
towards some future concert of action in this matter. If the 
A. P. A. would then take it up, officially, and push it, a 
grand national Eowl Show could be held at Philadelphia in 
1876, that would tell for contributors. 
Mr. Ward, of Peabody, commends Mr. G. P. Burnham’s 
new book, the “ China Fowl, 1 ’ to poultry fanciers generally. 
I have just read this last work of Mr. B., and consider it a 
very completeand fair treatise upon the subject of “Asiatics ; ” 
It will repay the perusal, and I agree with the editor of 
the Poultry World, who, in his November number, says, 
“Mr. Burnham’s book is worth double the price charged 
for it,” and that it “ ought to be on every breeder’s library 
shelves.” 
“Novice,” of Manchester, N. H., wants to know, I ob- 
serve, what are the best breeds to cross with the Light 
Brahmas, rfor eggs and chicks, for market only. If he tries 
the Dominiques, he will not be disappointed ; but if he uses a 
good White Leghorn cock upon his Light Brahma hens, he 
will find that the progeny will answer better, in respect of 
the non-sitting quality of the former. A generally larger 
fowl will be the result, either with the Dominique or the 
Dorking. But this cross reproduces persistent sitters among 
the pullets too largely. If he does not care about color, the 
Black Spanish cock with the Light Brahma hens is a most 
excellent cross, and I have practically tried all of these four 
varieties. 
I congratulate you on the largely improving pages of 
your advertising latterly in Fanciers’ Journal. The advan- 
tage of the issues of your paper twice in a month, over the 
visits of other poultry publications but once , must be appre- 
ciated; and I assure you we shall all be rejoiced when you 
can consistently return to the weekly issue. Surely one good 
American paper in our interests ought to be well supported 
in this country as a weekly. Yours, etc., 
Spangle. 
CONCERNING BANTAMS. 
Jos. M. Wade, Esq.: 
I notice in the last number of the Fanciers’ Journal, an 
inquiry from S. S. Bantam, in regard to the raising of Ban- 
tams. I have bred the Silver-Laced Sebright Bantam for 
years, and perhaps I can give S. S. B. a few hints, which 
may be of service to him. 
The cock should at once be separated from the hens, un- 
til at least March, for by so doing he will be much more 
vigorous as a breeder. He should never run with more 
than six hens. If warmly housed the hens will usually be- 
gin to lay freely in April, or, indeed, even sooner; but, as 
it is much too early to set their eggs, the propensity to lay 
should be checked, if possible, by feeding them with food 
containing but little egg-forming material — for instance, 
boiled rice. 
By carefully attending to these little details a large num- 
ber of eggs may be obtained in the months of June and 
July— which months are the most favorable for raising 
Bantams. Later than August it is unwise to hatch them, 
as the growth of the tail is apt to be retarded. A square, 
broad tail is a point of great beauty. Eor mothers, small 
clean-legged hens should be secured, and when found to be 
