Diminutive in size but large in spirit, for over 150 years the Nankin bantam has been poised on the brink of extinction. To many, it may seem remarkable that this rare and ancient fowl still exists at all. But those few committed stewards who have cared for the breed through the ages have known first-hand that the stranger contemplation is that the breed ever became rare at all.Just as rare as the Nankin bantam itself are modern scholarly works on poultry breeds. Mark Fields has included in this book all available current and historic information, allowing the reader to trace the Nankin bantam's course through time and events. This book represents the most complete compilation of information ever amassed for this wonderful and ancient breed of chicken. Learn about the history of the breed's name, its historic uses, and its arrival to the United States, as well as the fine points of breeding and identifying purebred Nankins.The Nankin Bantam: A Rare and Ancient Fowl is a must-have for poultry historians and fanciers of the breed alike.