£ St

wa neha sei Rae SH :

 

 
Cornell University Libra

rcs
 

One Shilling.

 

lB =

  

GAME FOWL.

Its History, Description,
Management, Breeding,

 

 

 

and Feeding.

By HERBERT ATKINSON,

 
 
 

au, Loypon: = - |
The Fanciers’ Gazette,” At. S

54-57, Imperrar ‘Burmpies, ;
a1? -Lupeatz Crrcus,

A,

 

 

 

 
sHE “ou GET

SPRATTS PATENT |

IN BAGS WITH LEAD SEALS, ieee -
“SPRATTS PATENT” and a “X”

Or you may be supplied with ; ‘*
A Cheap and Innutritious.

» om Imitation for the sake On
FcaarTs Pi ATEN i extra profit. ae
a LIMITED — if

ns

To be obtained of all our. be
m™ Agents in Bags. Stamped with -
ay, ae Name and Trade Mark. |
yp Price ‘(bag included), per owt.
A 20/-; ‘per half ewt., 10/6; ‘per’

ee quarter cwt., 5/6; Bs 14lb.,
2/9; per 7 Biss 1/6.
SEE YOU GET THE MEAL IN SEALED BAGS.

 

 

‘The Common Sense of Poultry-Rearing.”
3d. Post Free.

 

OF ALL DEALERS, OR OF

SPRATTS Patent, Ltd., Bermondsey, London, 8.5.
S
3),
BOULTON & PAUL, Norwich,

MANUFACTURERS OF ALL

Poultry Appliances, Improved Movable Fencing, &e.

Original Manufacturers of
THE IMPROVED MOVABLE FENCING

For Fnclosing Poultry and Pheasants,
Reduced Cash Prices, Carriage Paid.

6£t. high, including bolts and nuts ... 2/6 per yard-
5ft. high, ” ” noe Ble ”
4ft. high, 5 5 «se 1HO ,,
Doorway complete, 2ft. wide... .. (7/6 each.
; Angle Iron Pillars for corners sae 2/B) 4
8 Ve tn lee BP = Reversible Troughs filted to Hurdles 5/- ,,

5 =,

 

a

SILT ELL
TOTAAL

 

 

TELL

 

 

 

 

SOOO OOS
UO

x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOVTTTE LTT ETT

 

 

 

ITT DON EEL,

i

= Se : If lower part of the Hurdle is covered with Gal-
vanised Sheet Iron, 1/- per yard extra.

MOVABLE FOWL. HOUSE,

For Poultry Keeping on Farms.
Cash Prices, Carriage Paid.
For Fowl House, as illustrated, roughly and

strongly constructed for Farm use, on
wheels, unpainted; size, 6ft. by 4ft., for

 

about 26 Fowls eh aes see «~ £4 00
La-ger size, 8ft. by €ft., for about 50 Fowls,
unpainted eau wie see oy cos 515 0
Without Wheels, 10/- and 15: less,
Poultry and Pigeon
Feeding Hopper.

  
  

2 ie
Prevents waste and keeps
the food dry, clean, and free
from contact with impurities. ; S29 Ip s
Price, 3/6 each. me 2 ae

No. 60a.—Patent Chicken Nursery

    

Reduced Cash Prices,

Carriage Paid, Poultry and Pigeon
4ft. square... £3 7 6 Fountain. or Bantam House.
Bft. ,, .«. 410 O ». No Disease, no Tainted Ground, no
“Git. 4 .. 60 0 Vermin.

Movable. Rat Proof. Thief Proof.

This House isa perfect safeguard against
inroads of vermin. Cash price, 6ft. by 3ft.,
2ft, Tin. high, each 25/-. Two, carriage paid.
Run, ¢ft. square, with covered top, 15/-.

If mounted on wheels,
-10/-extra. These Houses
are well made, with
grooved and tongtied
boards, painted three
coats. Roof double lined.

Keeps the wator oan and
free from contamination.
Price, 3/6 each. -

Descriptive Catalogues of all our Manufactures, including Iron Buildings

for Shooting and Fishing Lodges, Stabling, Huts, Kennels, Poultry Appliances,

 

 

Greenhouses, Garden Frames, &c., free on application.

 

BOULTON & PAUL, Norwich, Manufacturers,

"2 '
al
we

‘SNHH NHLVAHM ONY FOCIYLUVd HLIM WOOO Gau LHOIT GHLSVEUA MOVIA

 
THE

OLD ENGLISH GAME FOWL:

$ts ‘history, Description, Management, Breeding
3 and Feeding.

BY

HERBERT ATKINSON.

LONDON:
THE FANCIERS’ GAZETTE, Lum.,
54 to 57, IMPERIAL BUILDINGS, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.
SF
IO4 Pita
As7 Ok

Avl23 374

 
INDEX.

PAGE
Introduction ni aa sas ws aa stv way

Origin and History a its aja ane ive ge oD
The Revival of Old English Game in the Show Pen ..- eae LO
The Points of Game Fowls ate aaa a oa sea 1 29
The Different Breeds and Colours oe Wes aid ve «26
The Sport of Cocking ... we a sis aa we 43
‘The Useful Properties of Old English Game ... ues we 55

Management and Mating of the Breeding Stock oe we OF
Sitting, Hatching, Rearing, &c.... ies oF ate .. 60
Exhibiting ... ae a ae bes ais bee w. 63

Diseases... sist ie oe oe sia wis we «664
INTRODUCTION.

In writing this little work on ‘Old English Game,” it has been my
endeavour to describe the birds for the benefit of those fanciers and

beginners who are not yet fully conversant with them.

Iam not for one moment supposing that any work such as the
present will be of much value to ‘‘Old Hands,” but if it causes the
true Game Fowl to be better known and more widely kept, and is of
any assistance to the poultry fancier about to take up the breed, it

will have attained its object.

I have received some of the most interesting information on
“Hennies,”’ &c., from a gentleman well known under his nom de
plume of ‘Game Cock,” whose kindness I take this opportunity to
acknowledge. I may add that had I not been frequently asked to
write something of this kind by several fanciers, this monograph

would probably never have appeared.

March 25th, 1891. H. A.
 

THE OLD ENGLISH GAME FOWL.

De deh leh ide Lt et LL ete ia Lai | i le

CHAPTER I.

ORIGIN AND HISTORY.

T what time the game fowl was first kept in a state of
domestication is not known. As in the case of the horse
i & and the dog, the past is silent on that point, and we are
left to conjecture. As to the origin of the game cock, many writers
have aired their pet theories; nearly all, however, attribute his
origin to four varieties of jungle fowl, viz., Gallus ferrugineus, Gallus
Sonneratii, Gallus furcatus, and the Ceylon jungle, fowl. We are
bound, however, to add that, although these wild varieties are game
in the wild state, yet the crosses that have been tried in India with
the jungle fowl have been failures in point of courage, and while it
was the opinion of one of our ablest authorities on game fowls, and
in which I entirely coincide, that the yellow-legged and yellow-
fleshed varieties were introduced from India at a comparatively
later date, and are descended from some of the wild jungle fowls
still in existence there, the older white-legged and white-fleshed
birds are not of that origin, but have been in England from the
earliest times, and are probably descended from some species now
extinct. The opinion expressed by Trevor Dickins, Esq., was that
the original wild varieties of game fowls were—

1. Black breasted reds, with fawn partridge hens.

2. Brown breasted reds, with dark brown hens.

3. Red breasted ginger reds, with yellow legs and light partridge
hens.

    
10

This gentleman made the wild varieties of game fowls his special
study, so his opinion should be valuable.

Whatever may be the doubts as to the origin of the game cock,
it is certain that he has been bred for his work for many centuries ;
he is perhaps somewhat changed in appearance, and has been
divided into many different breeds and strains by selecting birds
that were distinguished by some peculiar mark or colour, and struck
the fancy of their breeders ; but no one conversant with the subject
can doubt the fact that the original ancestors must have been pos-
sessed of the true game courage and elegance of shape, knowing that
it is impossible that any amount of selection should produce truly
game fowls from ordinary blood.

The first mention of cock-fighting is said to be in the reign of
Croesus, King of Lydia (a.m. 8426), and in India it is mentioned in
the ‘‘ Codes of Manu,” written one thousand years before Christ.

At a very early period the cock was famed for his courage ; thus
Peisthetcerus (Aristophanes ‘‘ Birds,” 483 et seq.) relates why the
cock was called the Persian bird, and how he ruled over that country
before Darius and Megabazus (B.c. 521); the classic poets and his-
torians are unanimous in speaking of his valour, and coins and
medals are in existence bearing the representation of two cocks
fighting stamped upon them.

The Greeks and Athenians fought cocks. Themistocles, the
Athenian General, encouraged his soldiers’ valour by pointing out to
them two cocks fightirig, saying, ‘These birds fight not for their
gods, nor for their children, nor for glory, nov for freedom, but for
the sake of victory, that one may not yield to the other;’’ the
example of the cocks having such an effect on the flagging spirits of
the soldiers that he led them once move to victory. Afterwards
Themistocles instituted a public festival, held annually in the
theatre, where the young men were compelled to attend to learn a
lesson in courage from witnessing the fighting of cocks and quails.
The Rhodian fowls, and those of Media, Chalcis, and Persia, were
celebrated for their courage and superiority in fighting, and also for
the excellence and delicacy of their flesh.

The Romans, as might be expected, were devoted to the sport,
probably learning it from the Greeks, as was the case with many
other things. At any rate, they carried it to a great pitch, and
fought both cocks and quails. The cock was called ‘the bird” by
the ancients ; highly esteemed in some countries, and held sacred in
 

COCK TRIMMED AND HEELED FOR THE FIT.
13

others; while, on account of his courage and watchfulness, he was
dedicated to Apollo, to Mercury, to Aisculapius, and to Mars.
When the Romans under Julius Cwsar invaded Britain they found
the fowl in a state of domestication, but forbidden as food and kept
for diversion and sport.

One of the first notices of cock-fighting in England is by William
Fitz-Stephen in the time of Henry the Second, who alludes to it as
the sport of schoolboys on Shrove Tuesday. The school was the
pit and the master the director of the sport; indeed attention has
been called to the fact that at one or two old-established schools the
scholars were being charged with cock-pence quite recently (in one
case as much as thirty shillings annually), although the sport had
long ceased to exist in the school.

From a very early time the sport has heen followed in England
without intermission up to the present time, although one or two
Acts were passed forbidding it, notably one by Oliver Cromwell,
dated March 31, 1654. Most of our kings, however, have been
patrons of the sod. King Henry the Highth, although he passed an
Act at one time against cockfighting, built a cock-pit at Whitehall
for his private diversion, and is supposed by some to have founded
the Cock-pit Royal at Westminster, in which mains were fought
regularly until the Act was passed prohibiting the sport in the
present century. This building was quite as much an institution as
the theatre at the present time—indeed some of the theatres were
used for that purpose, notably Drury Lane.

All the Stuarts were fond of cocking. In an old book dealing -
with orders on the Exchequer in the reign of James the First we
find frequently repeated the following order :—‘‘ £16 13s. 4d. to
William Gatacre, for breeding, feeding, and dieting of cocks of the
game for his Highness’ recreation.”

King Charles the Second is said to have introduced the Pile breed
of game, a cock of that colour belonging to his Majesty winning
great distinction in the pit. King Charles was passionately fond of
cock-fighting, and, according to Sir John Rereby’s Memoirs, we find
his Majesty’s diversions when he visited Newmarket in October,
1684, were as follows:—‘In the morning he walked until ten
o’clock, then to the cock-pit until dinner time at one p.m. ; at three
p.m, to the horse-racing on the heath; at 6 p.m. to the cock-pit
again for an hour, and then to the play.” Not only the royal house-
hold, but the whole Court, moved to Newmarket for a month’s
14

stay, horse-racing being only one of the amusements. There were
also hunting, coursing, cock-fighting, theatrical plays, and hawking,
which latter, according to the ‘“‘ Harleian Miscellany,” was one of
the ‘‘Merry Monarch’s’’ favourite diversions, ‘‘ because it was so
commodious for the ladies.” oi

I might go on quoting from old works and writings ad infinitum,
but however interesting they may be, it is not possible to do so in a
little work like the present. It would only be multiplying proofs of
the general breeding of the game fowl throughout the length and
breadth of the land, including Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
Almost every noble family had their particular strain of cocks, until
at the beginning of the present century perfection seems to have
been reached. To show in what quantities they were bred, it is
said that one breeder alone had three thousand cocks at walk, each
cock’s pedigree and parents on both sides being known, and each
bird marked in foot, nostril, eyelid, or wing, as the case might be.
Many people imagine that these birds were of all colours, but it was
not so; the different colours were bred much more perfectly than at
present, and.eye, beak, and leg must match, so that, although there
might perhaps be a hundred cocks or more of one strain in the pens
for training, yet they would be almost all alike to a feather.

The celebrated winning cocks of the year were as regularly
engraved as the winners of the Derby, and as much care was lavished
in breeding them ; all sorts and conditions of men were represented,
and the names of Lords Derby, Sefton, Anson, Lowther; Dr.
Bellyse, Halford, Germain and Clarke, may serve to show how
general was the pursuit ; whilst in the Church itself were many en-
thusiastic admirers of the sport; one noted Dean of York frequently
attended the cock-pit, and bred such fine cocks as to hold his own
against all comers. The Rey. Mr. Brooks, of Shifnal, Shropshire,
was also a large breeder of good birds. At York the cock-pit was
near the Cathedral, and at Canterbury the cock-pit was an apart-
ment of the gateway forming part of St. Augustine’s Monastery.
The last pit built in England was the one at Melton Mowbray, at a
cost of 700 guineas. The old pit at Chester is about 45ft. by 45ft.,
nearly 40 feet high, with nine large windows, and a glass dome over
the pit which was 20 feet in diameter.

Enough, I hope, has been written to show the modern fancier
how generally, and in what perfection the game cock was bred by
our ancestors, and how long he has been famous in England. Long
15

may he remain the type of beauty and dauntless courage, as he will
remain if the modern fanciers and those who can never be satisfied
unless by some new departure, do not spoil, transform and improve
him away.

 
16

CHAPTER II.

THE REVIVAL OF OLD ENGLISH GAME IN THE
SHOW PEN.

BELIEVE that the first poultry show was held in 1846, and

from that time exhibitions of fowls have increased in popu-
= larity until they have assumed their present position, and
have become an institution in most countries. Probably they have
done much good in encouraging the importation and breeding of
new varieties; to the game fowl they certainly have done much

 

harm.

When fanciers began breeding game fowls for show purposes
they began to destroy their most valuable points, until at the present
time the modern show game presents the curious anomaly of a game
cock that is not game, and lacks all the attributes of a game fowl.
It is not intended by this to decry the modern show production, but
simply to state facts. Many, doubtless, admire the modern bird,
and some of the old fanciers who have lived to see the game cock
gradually resolved into the bird now seen sitting in the show pen,
—which on being “ stirred up”’ rises, first on his hocks, then on his
feet, then puts his head through the top of the pen, and stands up
in all his beauty (?)—must indeed be gratified to know that they have
improved the game cock to this, a caricature of the heron. Verily
they have their reward! Now let those fanciers who take
up true game for exhibition purposes take warning by this. Do
not, I pray you, try to improve the true game cock by adding,
exaggerating, or making points which true specimens of the
breed do not already possess. It is, perhaps, less the fault of
the breeders than the judges, since it is the judge who awards
the prizes, and it is to please him that the exhibitor must breed
if he wishes to be successful. A judge should show no par-
tiality for any particular breed or colour, so long as the colour
is good of its kind, with eye, beak, and leg to correspond.
Nor should mere size be taken muck into consideration ; strength,
17

activity, good handling properties, keenness, gameness of aspect,
cleanness of feet and legs, smartness and purity of feather should
be the chief points. The true game cock will not vary from his
proper shape if “fanciers” will rest satisfied with the “king of
birds,” as he is, and which the old breeders bred to such perfection,
that modern breeders can never hope to eacel, if they ever equal
them. The game cock as shown at poultry shows being so altered,
as already mentioned, in all his chief and essential points, the
game classes began to fall off, and ordinary visitors failed to be
attracted by a bird which, to all but the eye accustomed to them,
must be considered ungainly and practically useless ; and about
1882 I fancy the general public believed the true game fowl to be a
thing of the past, and that he had ceased to exist in this country.
Here let me say that it was solely among cock-fighters that he did
still exist. Many of these had had the same breed for generations,
and would neither sell birds nor eggs. They were not led away by
showing, or fashion, or money-making. Their requirements were
purity of blood, cowrage, heel, activity, strength and soundness of
constitution. About the year 1883 a class for the true or old
English game fowls was given at Clayton Moor in Cumberland ;
then Aspatria followed suit, and Wigton provided classes. In 1887
the Old English Game Club was founded, and although this club
was given up about two years afterwards, it had nevertheless suc-
ceeded in assisting very considerably to bring Old English game
prominently before the public—notably, by the classes at Birming-
ham—and the Dairy shows, which have been since continued and
are well filled, forming an additional attraction. The Royal Agri-
cultural Society also gave classes about this time with such
success that they are not only continued, but the prizes are now
confined exclusively to Old English; and at the present time all
the principal shows provide classes for them. The old-fashioned
birds appear to be coming quite to the front again in the shows,
and our earnest hope now is that they will not be transformed, as
their now distant cousins, the modern game, have been. I think
this a very necessary warning. Do let us rest satisfied with the
game cock as he is and was two centuries ago. Some of the judges
already show too much preference for the white-legged breeds,
for wheaten hens, for more size, and encourage loose feather. For
a common table fowl, and a table fowl only, the white leg is good,
but it must be remembered that the game cock is something more
18

than an ordinary barn-door fowl. And, as regards size, I have
never seen a very large cock so perfectly symmetrical, active and
smart as a medium-sized bird; nor is anything to be gained by
such large birds either as game cocks or in the production of eggs
and chickens. Poultry keepers, from even an ordinary point of
view, should bear in mind that great frames and bone are unprofit-
able, that the fine quality and great proportion of meat, smallness
of bone, and absence of offal are never combined with great frames,
and great frames and great appetites go together, and that very
large animals or birds are never so prolific as those of ordinary
size, and are also more liable to unsoundness. Wheaten hens, too,
should certainly take a second place to the partridge-coloured as
a mate for black-breasted reds or for showing.
19

CHAPTER III.

THE POINTS OF GAME FOWLS.

= HE points laid down in the standard drawn up by the
“Old English Game Fowl Club,” in 1887, are as
follows :—

  

The Old English Game Fowl Club.
Standard of Perfection.

cock.

Head, narrow, of medium length; beak slightly curved and
strong at the base; eyes prominent and bright, with quick and
confident expression, and alike in colour.

Muff (if any) to be short and thickly feathered.

Layback (if any) to lie close to head, and extend straight back.

Neck, rather long, and very strong at junction with body;
the hackle composed of long feathers, covering the shoulders.

Back, medium length, broad across the shoulders, tapering
towards the tail, the saddle feathers long and flowing.

Breast and body, breast broad, full and straight ; body medium
length, firm and muscular, convex on the sides, broad at the
shoulders, and tapering towards the tail.

Wings, long, strong, and inclining to meet under the tail.

Tail, nearly upright, full and expanded; sickle feathers abun-
dant, broad and well curved; main tail feathers abundant, broad,
with hard and strong quills.

Legs and feet, thighs short and stout, shanks rather long, of
medium bone, flat and clean; scales smooth and close; toes long
and spreading, the back toe standing well backward, and flat on the
ground.

The whole body to appear symmetrical and muscular, and about
20

an even balance when handled by the sides with the fingers round
the thighs.
HEN.
The hen is to be similar to the cock in all points of symmetry, &c.

POINTS OF COLOUR IN BLACK-BREASTED RED GAME.
COCK.

Face, bright red.

Eyes, clear red.

Neck and saddle, dark golden red, free from dark streaks.

Breast and thighs, black.

Back, deep red.

Wings, deep red with a rich dark blue bar across; secondaries
bay colour; primaries and wing ends black.

Tail, black, with lustrous green gloss.

Legs, white, yellow, willow, &c.

HEN.
Face, bright red.
Eyes, clear red.
Neck, golden red streaked with black.
Breast and thighs, salmon colour.
Back and wings, partridge colour.
Tail, black, with a shading of brown.
Legs, to match cock.

POINTS OF COLOUR IN BRIGHT RED GAME.
COCK.

Face, bright red.

Eyes, clear red.

Neck and saddle, light golden red, free from dark streaks.

Breast and thighs, black, with an edging of brown on breast
feathers.

Back, bright red.

Wings, wing bow bright red; in other respects similar to black
red.

Tail, black, with lustrous green gloss.

Legs, white or yellow.

HEN.
Face, bright red.
21

Eyes, clear red,

Neck, deep golden red.

Breast and thighs, salmon colour,
Back and wings, clay or wheaten.
Tail, black, with a shading of brown.
Legs, white or yellow.

POINTS OF COLOUR IN BROWN-RED GAME.

COCK.
Face, dark red.

Eyes, dark brown or black.
Neck and saddle, rich brown, streaked with black.
Breast and thighs, brown, laced or mottled with light shades.
Back, dark rich brown.
Wings, shoulders dark brown, rest of wings black.
Tail, black.
Legs, dark willow or black.
HEN.
Face, dark red.
Eyes, dark brown or black.
Neck, golden, streaked with black.
Body, black, or of a uniform brown mottle.
Tail, black.
Legs, dark willow or black.

POINTS OF COLOUR IN BLUE-RED GAME.

COCK.
Face, bright red.

Byes, red.

Neck and saddle, light red.

Breast and thighs, slaty blue.

Back, shade darker red than hackle.

Wings, shoulders and wing bows same colour as back, with a
slaty blue bar across, secondaries bay on outer web, primaries black.

Tail, bluish black.

Legs, white, yellow, or blue.

HEN.

Face, bright red.

Eyes, red.

Neck, light golden, slightly streaked with black.

2
22

Breast and thighs, light salmon colour.
Back and wings, ginger blue.

Tail, slaty blue.

Legs, white, yellow or blue.

POINTS OF COLOUR IN PILE GAME.
COCK.
Face, brilliant red.
Lyes, bright red.
Neck and saddle, orange red or chestnut red.
Breast and thighs, white.
Back, deep red.
Wings, shoulders red; secondaries bay on outer web and white
on inner web, appearing bay when closed.
Tail, white.
Legs, white, yellow, or willow.
HEN.
Face, brilliant red.
Eyes, bright red.
Neck, light chestnut.
Breast and thighs, chestnut shading, lighter towards thighs.
Back and wings, white.
Tail, white.
Legs, white, yellow, or willow.

POINTS OF COLOUR IN YELLOW DUCKWING GAME.
COCKE,
Face, red.
Byes, red.
Neck and saddle, straw yellow, saddle a shade darker than
hackle.
Breast and thighs, black.
Back, deep gold colour.
Wings, copper maroon with a glossy green black bar across;
primaries black, secondaries white, sometimes tipped with black.
Tail, black.
Legs, yellow, willow, olive, or blue.
HEN.
Face, red.
Eyes red.
23

Neck, silver, striped with black.

Breast and thighs, salmon red, shading off to ashy grey on
thighs.

Back and wings, silver grey free from red or brown tinge.

Tail, dark grey, almost black.

Legs, yellow, willow, olive or blue.

POINTS OF COLOUR IN BLACK-BREASTED SILVER
DUCKWING GAME.
COCK.
Face, red.
Eyes, red.
Neck and saddle, silver white, free from dark streaks.
Breast and thighs, black.
Back, silver white.
Wings, shoulders and wing bows silver white, wing bar steel
blue, secondaries white on outer web, primaries black.
Tail, black.
Legs, yellow, white, olive, or blue.
HEN,
Face, red.
Eyes, red. a
Neck, silver, striped with black.
Breast and thighs, pale fawn.
Back and wings, dark grey.
Tail, grey and black.
Legs, yellow, white, olive or blue.

POINTS OF COLOUR IN WHITE GAME.
COCK AND HEN.
Face, scarlet-red.
Eyes, bright red.
Plumage, all over pure white.
Legs, white or yellow.

POINTS OF COLOUR IN BLACK GAME.
COCK AND HEN.
Face, red.
Eyes, red.
Plumage, all over glossy black.
Legs, black, or dark.
24

BRASS WINGS.

Same as above, with the exception of a little dark lemon on
shoulders of cock.

POINTS OF COLOUR IN SPANGLED GAME.
COCK AND HEN.
Face, bright red.
Eyes, red.
Plumage, either black, red, blue, or buff, spangled with white,
spangling as even as possible.
Tail, black and white.
Legs, willow, yellow, or black.

SCALE OF POINTS.*
Head... “a aes ace sha 8 | Wings eae asi oes a 10

Beak... ot tes Mee Oo 4] Tail... aa eee vas ae 5
Eyes... a sas wae v8 4 | Legs and Feet eee a jap
Neck... ee as disis + 10 | Closeness of Feather ase oan 6
Back... wee ies ies -- 10] Colour cae aa eae -» 10

Breast and Body ... cals . 15 | Handling ... se wee wes 6

These rules were, however, drawn up almost entirely by the
North Country breeders, and as they are somewhat brief, a further
description is necessary.

Beak, big, crooked, hawk-like, pointed, rather short; a long
beak, especially underneath, lacks holding power.

Eye, large, fearless, bold, quick and fiery.

Head, small and tapered.

Throat and face, skin of fine quality, loose and flexible, small
throat and tight skin causing difficulty in breathing when in violent
exercise.

Neck, large boned, round, strong, and of good length.

 

*T have given the above “Standard” on account of its being drawn up at
the time of the advent of Old English Game in the show-pen, and showing wlat
North country judges preferred ; it is not intended as a guide to the reader, who
has the other reliable list of colours to go by. Some of the most glaring errors I
have taken the liberty of altering from the originai, as they were quite mis-
leading, such as in Brown-reds, having orange or dark red colours, which would
turn them into brown breasted orange reds, or brown breasted dark reds, brown
breasted reds being of mary shades of colour, but true Brown reds Lave only two
colours ; the wing tips of Duckwings are also described as black, and white legs
approved of in some of the colours where they would be quite out of place.
25

Back, short, broad across the shoulders, tapering to the tail.

Breast, broad, straight, full, prominent; the ‘pectoral muscles
being well developed, gives power to the wings..

Wings, large and long; quills powerful and strong.

Tail, large and spread.

Belly, small and tight.

Thighs, very short, round and muscular.

Legs, strong, clean-boned, not round or gummy like other fowls,
nor too upright, nor too wide apart, but parallel with the body, and
well bent at the hocks, which is important; spur small and set very
low down.

Feet, flat, thin, spreading, long taper toes and nails, the hind toe
extending straight back and flat on the ground, not twisted sideways
ot ‘‘ duckfooted.”’

Plumage, the feathers strong, hard, close, sound, glossy and
sufficient.

Carriage, bold, smart; the movements quick and graceful; proud
and sprightly as if ready for any emergency.

Handling, clever, flesh firm, but corky and light, mellow and
warm, with strong contraction of the wings and legs.

A writer on cocking nearly three centuries since says :—‘‘In
shape that cock is ever held the strongest, which is largest in the
girth, which you shall prove by grasping him about, from the points
of your great fingers to the joints of your thumbs, he should be
sprightly and prowd in motion; his head small like unto the Spar-
hawk, his eye large and quick, his beak strong and crooked and big
at setting on, in colour suitable to his plume; the beame of his
legge very strong and according to his plume.’’ He should carry no
offal, lumber, or superfluous flesh, and should be in perfect health
and of sound constitution; a poor or weak constitution is totally
useless, and the only cure is death. This applies equally to both
cock and hen.

The hen should resemble the cock in all points, making allowance
for the difference in sex. She should be wide in the back, short-
legged, have a small comb, wattles, &c.; be strong, yet clean and
bloodlike in feet and legs ; strong beak ; short wide body.; her wings
well clipped, almost meeting beneath the tail; her movements
should be quick and alert, and she should have a neat and gamey
appearance, and if spurred so much the better. It is needless to
add she should match the cock in eye, beak, leg and colour.
26

CHAPTER IV.

 

THE DIFFERENT BREEDS AND COLOURS.

HE list of breeds and colours here given may be con-
sidered absolutely reliable. It was published early in
the present century, owing to a disagreement as to

terms, &c., when the match bills were made out on the occasion of

the main of T. Bourne against Flemming at the Cock-pit Royal,

Flemming disregarding the provincial terms of the Cheltenham

men. On the weighing night, at a supper given at the ‘‘ Cock and

Tabor,’ at which many experts were present (among others Nash (2),

Varley, Woodcock, Clarke, Martin, Bourne, and Flemming), the

matter was discussed, and, to simplify matters, a uniform list of

colours was drawn up, discarding provincial names and undesirable
crosses, and fixing the originals. It is said that every proposition
was assented to or negatived by a show of hands, the only point
in which the experts were entirely unanimous was in placing the

Black red before all others in merit of purity of blood. The follow-

ing is the list copied from the original MS. and sent me by a

well-known authority on game fowls, to whose kindness I am

indebted for much information here given.

 

LIST OF COLOURS.

REDS.

1. Black breasted blackred—black eyes, beaks, and legs, gipsy
faced.

2. Black breasted dark red—dark eyes, beaks, and legs.

3. Black breasted light red—red, yellow, or daw eyes, white,
yellow, or carp legs, secondaries when closed chestnut.

4. Streaky breasted ginger red—red, yellow, or daw eyes, white,
yellow, or carp legs, wing secondaries chestnut.

5. Brown breasted brown red—dark eyes, dark or bronzy legs. ,
27

GREYS.

6. Black breasted dark grey—black eyes, beaks, and legs, wing
secondaries black,

7.
8.

Mealy breasted mealy grey —black eyes, beaks, and legs.
Black breasted birchen duckwings—red or yellow eyes,

yellow legs.

9.

legs.

10.

11.
12.
13.

legs.

14.
16.

16.
17.
18.
19.

20.

face.

21.

legs.

22.
23.

24,

Black breasted silver duckwings—pearl or light eyes, white

Brown breasted yellow birchen—yellow eyes, yellow legs.

PILES.
Smock breasted bloodwing pile—red eyes, white legs.
Streaky breasted ginger pile—red eyes, yellow legs.
Streaky breasted custard pile—red eyes, yellow or white

Marble breasted spangled pile—red eyes, white legs.
Ginger breasted yellow pile—red or yellow eyes, yellow legs.

DUNS.
Dun breasted dun—dark eyes, dark legs.
Dun breasted blue dun—dark eyes, dark legs.
Streaky breasted red dun—dark eyes, dark legs.
Dun breasted yellow dun—dark eyes.

BLACKS.
Black breasted blacks—black eyes, legs, and beak, gipsy

Black breasted brassy winged—black or red eyes, bronzy

Black breasted furnaces—dark eyes, dark legs.
Black breasted polecat —dark eyes, dark legs.

WHITES.
Smock breasted smock, or pure white--pearl eyes, white legs

and beaks.

25.
26.
27.

28.
29,
30.
dl,

Smock breasted white—yellow or red eyes, yellow legs.
Cuckoo breasted cuckoo—red eyes, legs various.
Spangle breasted spangle red—red eyes, legs various.

VARIETY.
Henny—legs, eyes, and beak to match plumage.
Muff—legs, eyes, and beak to match plumage.
Tassell—legs, eyes, and beak to match plumage.
Indian—daw eyes, yellow or willow legs.
28

I will now make some further remarks on the various breeds
generally found at present, and will begin with the black breasted
light reds with white legs, as they seem the most popular at the
present time with fanciers and at the poultry shows.

BLACK-BREASTED REDS WITH WHITE LEGS.

These birds, sometimes called Lord Derby’s, form one of the
best strains of game fowls. Lord Derby’s breed, however, had
daw (grey) eyes, and partridge was the most usual colour for the
hens; and although some of the red-eyed birds have some of Lord
Derby’s blood they cannot be considered pure Derbys. Red eyes
are necessary under judges at shows at present, but that does not
alter the fact that the grey eye was a peculiarity of the Derby
strain. Another consists in their having some white or grizzled
feathers in wings, or tail, or both; in ordinary black-breasted reds
any white is a fault, but this breed always shows some. No breed of
fowls were better in the pit ; many a one winning two or three battles,
and one was noted as the victor of no less than nine encounters.
No breed of fowls excels them for the table; the flesh is beautifully
white, short in fibre, and extremely delicate, while there is a great
quantity of it in proportion to the small amount of bone; the breast
is full and large, and the thighs short and meaty. A celebrated
Liverpool physician used to say there was more nutriment in a
Knowsley fowl than the largest capon in the London market.
Knowsley was the seat of the late Earl of Derby, where this
strain was kept for upwards of a century. Thomas Roscoe had
sole charge of breeding and walking out the Knowsley birds. They
are generally good layers, but as they often want to sit they should
be checked if not wanted for that purpose, when they will soon
commence laying again.

The weights run about 54 Ibs. for cocks and 5 Ibs. for hens. I
have seen them much smaller and also very much larger. These
are the average weights.

As sitters and mothers, like all game fowls, they are excellent;
while the chickens are hardy and soon feather, and are wonderfully
quick and active in scratching and searching for insects, &c. The
colours should be as bright and the markings as distinct as possible
in the cocks, and the hackle bright red above and white beneath,
showing a white hackle when cut out in the pit.

When Mr. Harrison Weir visited Knowsley, shortly after the
29

Earl’s death, he found partridge hens and also some wheatens,
which were the produce of the grey cross, introduced about 1827.
Breeders now use the wheaten hens. very much. They must be
considered as useful for breeding bright coloured cocks, and, in my
opinion, their proper place is in the breeding pen. But so long as
judges persist in giving them prizes, to the exclusion of partridge
coloured ones, they will of course be shown.

In an article written on the breed by Mr. Weir, last year, he
says he knows of no breed he would keep in preference, since they
’ fulfilso many excellent conditions—fine in form, graceful in carriage,
beautiful in colour, small in bone, plenty of meat of fine quality,
white skin and fat, absence of offal, good layers of excellent
flavoured eggs of pretty colour, and seeking their own living far
and wide. A wheaten hen, mated with a bright-coloured cock with
a black breast, will produce bright coloured cocks and wheaten
hens; but if partridge coloured hens are wanted they must of
course be used to breed from, and the chickens as a rule come,
more uniform; although the cocks are apt to come a trifle dark
but sounder in colour, and the wheatens, if used too much, produce
mealy breasted cocks.

Judges object to white feathers in the tail, and although there is
no objection on the score of purity of blood, a cock with much white
in his tail is somewhat handicapped in the show pen, although afew
of our best judges do not lay too much stress on this point, as they
know that the best birds will often show it, and I think it ought not
to count more than a point or two against a bird good in other
respects. The legs should of course be white with a nice pink shade
down the sides, the nails white, and any black on the feet objection-
able, the beak white, or striped with horn colour, and for the show
pen a red eye is preferred, which should be bright and fiery.

BLACK-BREASTED REDS WITH YELLOW LEGS.

This was a very usual colour in game fowls from eighty to a hun-
dred years since, and several very celebrated strains had legs of this
colour. When good they are very handsome in appearance. At
the present time a red eye is necessary, a pale one being objection-
able and a fault; the cock’s breast should be black up to the throat,
and the colours bright. They are usually of strong constitution,
and run to larger weights than the white-legged birds ; most: of the
hens are good layers of large eggs. This colour is a favourite in
30

America, where the yellow leg is always admired; the cock should
be a good clear bay colour on the triangular space on the closed
wing (that is, the secondary quill feathers that show when the wing
is closed), and not black or crow-winged as in dark reds; the hens
should be partridge colour, and for breeding cocks wheatens are
sometimes used, as in other bright reds. These birds are sometimes
bred with streaky or shady breast (i.¢., an edging of brown on the
breast feathers, and the wing bar sometimes is brown), they are then
known as shady-breasted bright reds. I have known these colours
breed heavier weights than most breeds, sometimes reaching nearly
nine pounds in cocks, and seven and-a-half for hens, but these great
weights are seldom advantageous; such large birds being generally
less prolific and beautifully proportioned than those of medium
size. The noted birds of Lord Lowther and Holford were of this
colour.

BLACK-BREASTED REDS WITH DARK, WILLOW, OR CARP LEGS.

The black breasted reds with carp coloured legs were a very
excellent strain, no breed will come more true to colour; the hens
are a good sound partridge hue, free from red on wing; they closely
resemble the above variety except in colour of leg and beak, although
they were considered at one time not quite so hard in the pit. This
seems the most general colour for game in the Midland and
Southern Counties, just as the white and yellow legged birds seem
most numerous in the North. The colours are usually very pure
and bright, and they carry somewhat less offal than some of the
Northern birds. The hens are some of the best of layers. Old Sir
Harry Goodlake had a fine strain of this colour with dark olive legs.
The bright green legs so commonly seen now are probably the result
of crossing the dark legged strain with those having yellow legs.

THE TRUE BLACK REDS.

Of black-breasted reds, as mentioned above, there are many
variations, from dark red to the brightest orange hues, but of the
true blackred, or black-breasted blackred, rather, there are two
colours only, viz., black and red. In colour then the black-breasted
blackred should have the hackle, back, scapulars, and shoulder
coverts of a clear, vivid dark red, free from any black on the surface,
but black at the roots of the feathers, while the breast, thighs, belly,
31

tail, primary and secondary wing feathers, should be pure black.
The brood hen for such a cock should be a dark partridge colour,
bright red hackle above, black beneath, clean brick breasted, and
such to the posterior. In both sexes the eye, beak, and legs are
black, and the face that dark red, which is known as “ gipsy face.”
These are supposed to be the purest strain of game fowls, and no
birds had a higher reputation in the pit. It was from this breed
that Dr. Bellyse produced his celebrated brown-breasted reds, by
crossing them with the piles of Cheshire.

BLACK-BREASTED DARK REDS.

This strain is closely allied to the above, the principal difference
being that the eyes, beak, and legs were dark, instead of black, and
the hackle generally striped with black; the flight feathers are all
black or ‘ crow-winged.”

Sant, a Derbyshire breeder, noted for breeding, and supplying a
large number of good cocks, bred mostly birds of this colour; they
are described in a work, published at the beginning of the century,
as ‘‘a very dark blackred, striped uncommonly black upon the
neck, black beak and legs, very lofty, and fought at high weights.
The dark reds of Col. Mellish were also noted about that time.

STREAKY BREASTED GINGER REDS.

These birds differ from the black-breasted in not having the blue
bar across the wing, which instead is of a light bay, the breast is
streaked with brown, and the hackle and saddle a ginger red;
the hens are a light reddish colour, eyes red, yellow, or daw, and
yellow legs.

BROWN BREASTED BROWNREDS.

The above is one of the greatest favourites with sportsmen,
indeed, I may say that after black breasted reds, they are generally
the most popular. Dr. Bellyse, who throughout his long life was
invincible in the cock-pit, produced them by crossing the true black
red with the yellow legged piles of Cheshire. The cock should be
a rich brown in breast, hackle, shoulders, and saddle; tail and
primaries black, the hackle striped black. Sometimes the hackle ig
a rich orange colour, striped with black, and dark orange shoulders,
they are then known as brown breasted orange reds; the brown
breasted dark reds have dark red hackles, &e. There are many
32

varieties of breast colour, some prefering the copper breasted, others
streaky, and others, again, the laced breasted birds, but these all
differ from the true brown breasted brown red. The hen dark
brown, or blackish throughout, except the hackle, which is dark
golden, striped with black; gipsy or dark red faces, and dark legs,
eyes and beaks are necessary in this breed. The late Mr. W.
Cobden’s birds were of this colour, and I know of one, a hen, now
preserved in a glass case, that moulted a spangle, throwing back
to the original piles, and then became white and the legs turned
yellow after she had moulted two or three times, which was of
course a sport liable to occur in all breeds of animals and birds.

THE BLACK BREASTED DARK GREYS

Closely resemble the true blackred, saving that the red gives
place to a dark steely grey; sometimes they are striped in the
hackle, the hens to match them are very dark, with grey striped
hackles.

THE MEALY-BREASTED MEALY GREY.

The author of the ‘‘ Cocker’”’ describes these birds as follows,
“A clear mealy grey, nearly white breasted, without spot or streak,
4 lbs. 6 oz. to 4 Ibs. 8 oz., high standing, bony and black legs, close
feathered, short hackled, small snake head and full dark eye, their
walk easy, firm, and majestic, their breasts gracefully prominent,
shoulders broad and up, their bodies gradually tapering to the tail ;
their actions were in unison with their shapes.”

BLACK-BREASTED BIRCHEN DUCKWING.

Many of our readers are no doubt acquainted with the two
prints by Marshall of a cock in full feather and one trimmed for the
pit of this breed. It is supposed they were bred from the black-
breasted red, the yellow birchen and the grey duckwing hens. They
are beautiful and good birds and have usually very good strong con-
stitutions ; yellow legs and red eyes and a dark birchen colour across
the shoulders and back are necessary in the cock; in other respects
he much resembles the yellow or golden duckwings.

BLACK-BREASTED SILVER DUCKWING.

This handsome strain was known many years agoas Lord Hill’s;
it was these birds that were crossed with the Dorking, producing the
33

present strain of silver grey in that breed; they were bred with
pearl or light eyes, but red eyes are preferred by most breeders now ;
the cock is a glossy black in breast, thighs, belly, primary wing
feathers and tail, with a blue bar across the wing; in hackle,
shoulders, saddle and secondary wing feathers, a clear silvery white ;
the hen a beautiful blueish silvery grey, marked with darker pencil-
ling, quite free from any rusty feathers on the wings, the tail dark
and hackle silvery white striped black, legs and beaks are white and
the breast is fawn colour; no strain will breed more true to colour
than these.

YELLOW BIRCHEN.

The brown-breasted yellow birchen with yellow eyes, beaks,
and legs, are not often seen now; they are hard, gamey-looking
birds, the hackle and saddle feathers a pale straw colour, having a
shade of birchen showing thoughout; the wings brown, as are also
the secondaries, wanting the bar across and white space, as seen in
the Duckwings. Mr. Nunis’ strain of Yellow Birchens, known as
the butcher breed, from their killing qualities, held their own for
some years in the early part of the present century.

YELLOW OR GOLDEN DUCKWINGS.

This is a very handsome variety. The cock should have a clear
hackle, free from ticks or stripes, and of a bright straw colour;
saddle feathers one shade darker, shoulders should be a bright yet
deep golden colour, the wing has a clear steel blue bar across it, the
triangular space on the remainder of the closed wing being pure
white; breast, thighs, belly, tail, primary wing feathers and tips of
the secondaries black; the legs yellow or willow. The hen re-
sembles the silver Duckwing hen in colour, except that the appear-
ance is not quite so silvery and the breast is a deeper fawn colour ;
the hackle white, striped lightly with black, tail shaded to black,
any rusty hue on the wings is very objectionable. Yellow Duck-
wings are frequently bred from a bright-coloured black breasted red
cock and good coloured Duckwing hens, and a silver Duckwing cock
is sometimes used for bringing back the pure colour in pullets. The
Isle of Wight Yellows, so famous in days gone by, are all now
extinct, although a few strains have a dash of their blood.
34

PILES.

These birds have been notorious for their winning powers in the
pit, and are favourites with most sportsmen; while the handsome
colours, together with their good laying qualities, should recommend
them to the fancier. Itis said that the colour was introduced by
King Charles II., whose pile cock was very celebrated, they usually
had the credit of carrying a very deadly heel, and without having
quite so much gameness and staying power as some strains, were
exceedingly quick and dangerous to their opponents. The Earl of
Derby had a bird of this colour that won many battles; while the
Cheshire Piles, with their peculiar mode of fighting, bore off most
of the honours of their day. The Mansell Piles too were very
famous also about that time. Pile game, like many other breeds,
were perfected by the closest in-breeding; even the dark and light
varieties of the Cheshire Piles were kept to themselves, and when
crossed with other pile coloured birds generally deteriorated.

SMOCK-BREASTED BLOOD-WING PILES.

These cocks should resemble a bright coloured black breasted
red, except that the black is exchanged for white, and the bar
across the wing white. The hen is golden yellow in head and
neck, the latter striped with white, salmon red breast, the colour
of back and wings a clear creamy white; frequently the shoulders
are marked slightly with red. This for exhibition is perhaps the
handsomest colour in piles, and they can with care be bred very
true, occasionally a black breasted red cross is necessary for these
high coloured ones, but not nearly so often as supposed. Black
breasted red cocks and pile hens usually throw bright coloured
cockerels, while good coloured pullets are sometimes bred from a
pile cock, and hens bred from a pile cock and blackred hen. White
cocks and black breasted red hens also throw piles.

STREAKY BREASTED PILES.

Some breeders prefer the streaky breasted birds. The streaky
breasted ginger pile is as described—that is with breast streaked
red, and the hackle and shoulders and saddle feathers a light ginger
red, legs should be yellow. The streaky breasted custard pile is
even lighter than the above, and the white ground should have a
creamy appearance; the hens of these varieties should be of the
same colour as the pile hen previously described, but corres-
pondingly lighter to match the cocks.
35

THE MARBLE BREASTED SPANGLED PILE.

The breast in these birds should be marbled, or spotted with
red or sometimes black; the hackle and saddle red, white at
roots of feathers, with a few tips of white (and sometimes a little
black), shoulders red, tail white, ticked more or less with black ;
these birds have a parti-coloured or piebald appearance, and to
admirers of those colours are handsome; the hens are a fawn colour
speckled with white, and both sexes have white legs and beaks, and
red eyes, the white spangles should be as even as possible throughout.

GINGER BREASTED YELLOW PILE.

The breast ginger or tawny in colour, yellowish red hackle and
saddle, red shoulders, white flights, and tail mostly white. These
are rarely bred now, and are not so handsome as some of the other
varieties; yellow eyes, beaks and legs. These are considered by
some the original piles.

DUNS.

There are no more celebrated strains of fowls than the various
strains of Dun. Sir Francis Boynton, Mr. Elwes (one of whose red
duns won the extraordinary number of twenty-seven battles), and
that great cocker and soldier, Col. Mellish, bred some of the finest
ever seen. They are particularly hard and workmanlike in appear-
ance, and the hens have a very neat, trim, and gamey look.

The dun breasted dun, with dark eyes, legs, and beak, seems to
require no further description. The colour should be level and
uniform, and the hen whole coloured to match.

The dun breasted blue dun, the hackle, saddle, shoulders, and
primaries should be a dark blue, the remaining portion dun; the
breast is sometimes laced with dark bluish edgings to each feather.
The hen should be dun, the hackle a shade darker than the rest,
and is sometimes laced throughout with dark blue edgings to the
feathers. These laced birds, when of good, sound colour, should be
better known, as they are extremely pleasing.

The streaky breasted red dun is perhaps the most popular of all
the birds of this colour ; cocks—beak and legs dark, eyes dark red,
breast slate colour, with edging of gold on_each feather, or striped
gold colour; hackle golden red, shading golden towards the bottom,
striped with dark stripes, shoulders clear darkish red, saddle
feathers red gold colour, striped with slate, tail and secondary
36

wing feathers slate colour. The hen should be slate colour, laced
with gold on breast, and having a golden striped hackle ; eye, beak,
and legs to match cock.

The dun breasted yellow dun is a dun fowl, with light yellow,
hackle and saddle, and reddish yellow shoulders; in other respects
dun.

BLACKS.

The black cocks of Lord de Vere were noted, and continued in
great notoriety when afterwards bred by Mr. Thomas Wilson, of
Burton, Staffordshire. He describes them as ‘a perfect jet black,
gipsy faced, black legs, rather elegant than muscular, lofty in their
manner of fighting, close in their feather and well shaped.” ‘True
Blacks require no further description than black entirely free from
any other colour, and having black beaks, legs, and eyes, and gipsy
faces.

Black breasted brassy winged are the same as above, except
that the cocks have a patch of flame colour on each wing. They
often have red faces and eyes, and their legs should be bronze.

Black breasted Furnaces, with dark eyes and legs, have golden
coloured feathers across the shoulders, vary in shade, and are
supposed to resemble a furnace; the colour is supposed to resemble
flames of fire rising from a coal or black ground colour; black
breast and saddle, body fiery red, often tinging hackle and wing,
and some of the hens often show a little gold on some of the
shoulder feathers; in other respects black. These birds were
sometimes bred with bright yellow legs.

Black breasted Polecats.—These are black, but have more red
than Furnaces and of a lighter shade, sometimes extending to the
hackle and saddle. The hens are dark, or black with hackle to
match the cock.

WHITES.

Some of the whites possess a longer pedigree than most breeds
of game. The names of Molineauxes, Cholmondeley’s, and Raylances
were well known to old breeders for the excellence of their white
breed of games. The purest strains had white legs and beaks and
pearl eyes, but many of the whites now have red eyes, and some-
times yellow legs, which is quite allowable.

They are usually small, and most white fowls appear softer
in feather than some others at the present time; care in breeding
87

would probably improve them. They were usually known as
 Smocks.”

CUCKOOS.

The cuckoo-breasted cuckoos are blueish-grey in colour, banded
across the feathers with darker or lighter shades, something similar
to the colour seen at poultry shows in Plymouth Rocks or Cuckoo
Dorkings. Most of the birds I am acquainted with of this colour are
north country bred, they should have red eyes and generally white
or yellow legs, the hens of course resemble the cocks in colour; the
markings, &c., should be as even as possible throughout the plumage,
in different birds the colour varies, some being almost white and
others blueish-grey in ground colour, while the markings vary from
blueish-grey to black. Yellow cuckoos have a buff ground colour.

Spangle-breasted spangle-red, or pheasant-breasted pheasant-
reds, as they were often called, are, I believe, almost extinct or
bred very rarely at the present time. They were fowls of very
attractive and brilliant plumage consisting of red and golden-red
spotted and marked with black, almost after the fashion of a ‘Golden
Spangled Hamburg,” of whom they are said by some to be the
ancestors, and some writers say that the ‘‘Golden Mooney” and
‘Pheasant Malay’’ owe their existence to the same source. Their
markings were very attractive, but from being less successful in the
cock-pit they -gradually became neglected, although if any be in ex-
istence now, they would probably become popular in the show-pen
on account of their plumage.

HENNY GAME.

The remarks given here on ‘‘ henny game” are from the pen of
the greatest breeder of that variety at the present time, a gentleman
to whom I am indebted for some of the most interesting information
contained in this little work.

“ Tf there is any truth in the theory of our game breeds coming
from the wild fowls of India, then the Ceylon jungle fowl, being partly
hen-feathered, suggests itself as a likely ancestor, besides some of
the pheasant tribe. On the other hand we had game fowls long
before having any intercourse with that country. Gilbert and other
officers have seen henny-cocks fought in India. They were formerly
very plentiful in Wales and Cornwall, and there is an old account
of a main, fought at Pontefract in the year 1670, hen-cocks v. long-

3
38

feathers. The black hen-cocks of Wales were thought a fit present
for a prince, and Pembrokeshire once challenged all England with
them. Hunt brought these black-thornes (hen-cocks) into Somer-
setshire, and old cockers used to tell how when there were no
roads for carriages, they carried their hen-cocks on horseback to
Exeter to fight. It will be seen, therefore, that hennies are an old-
established and well-known variety of British game fowl, from
which they differ chiefly in length, form and brilliancy of feather,
the plumage of the male bird invariably resembling that of the hens,
hence the name of hen-cocks or hennies, and the more rounded;
short and free from sheen or gloss they are in hackle, cloak, and
tail, in short the more hen-feathered they appear in neck, wings,
body and tail the more they are entitled to claim purity of breed ;
they are generally light in bone, and on that account were never
favourite match cocks with the old feeders at the ‘ Cockpit Royal,’
who preferred cocks with more bone, having light corky bodies that
appeared larger than their actual weight in the scales; although
this was sometimes more than compensated for in the hen-cock’s
watchful eye, wary posture and sudden rapid onslaught, in fact,
like the famous Cheshire Piles, they seem to have an hereditary
style of fighting peculiarly their own. It is an undoubted fact
that hen-cocks generally get the first fly, and being invariably good
heeled cocks frequently crippled or wounded their antagonist, which
being effected they were seldom slow to finish. It is admitted this
frequently occurs through the apparent apathy of their opponents,
who appear disconcerted by their feminine appearance and are
unable to decide whether their mission is one of love or war, until
pierced with the silver spur. During a long and extensive
experience with these birds, I have seen scores of cocks crip-
pled and not a few killed outright before assuming a fighting
attitude, while totally off their guard, and even whilst mauntling,
their death thrust has come upon them sudden as an electric
shock. Nothing equals the first dash of two hen-cocks when pitted;
we have seen both stone dead within thirty seconds of leaving the
setters’ hands—an almost incredible fact to those who have wit-
nessed the violent struggles and muscular contortions of fowls for
minutes after decapitation. Fast and furious as they fight a win-
ning battle or kill a sinking cock, they are frequently found wanting
in stamina or physique to finish or win in a long and severe contest,
thus proving their further resemblance to hens in constitution as
     
  
      
 

wg ie oe CU at
i: ey Wy
itp Lae il
Te Mee es, ay

 
    
   
 
    

 

 

3
SL

car
eS Seana
a

GROUSE COLOURED HENCOCK, THE PRCPERTY OF MR. JOHN HARRIS, LISKEARD.
 
41

well as feather. They are of various colours, the most esteemed
being dark partridge, red-grouse, wheatens, greys, blacks, duns,
whites, and spangles; a well-known poultry judge once stated he.
had seen and bred black-breasted reds, but certainly these were not
hennies. The colour of eye, beak and legs should correspond as
near as possible with the plumage ; having been kept more free from
crosses than other strains of game, they retain the original charac-
teristics of the breed, generally run smaller, but sometimes weigh
as much as seven or eight pounds, and probably carry more meat
with less offal than any breed whatever, which for quality, rich-
ness of flavour, delicacy and nutritive properties is second to none.
They are the most prolific layers of the whole game race; they
cannot lay any claim to that beauty of plumage so conspicuous in
other strains of game, and this seems their only drawback, for what
they lack in ornament they make up in utility, and for the use of
the cottager or those who breed fowls for their own table they are
worth all the new so-called best breeds that have been introduced of
late. There has been a great deal written in the public press on’
the enormous quantity of eggs and poultry imported, and we need
scarcely wonder at this, when the whole country is filled with huge
useless fowls, each of which will eat as much food as three of our
old English breeds and not lay any more eggs; the cottager cannot
afford to buy food for such ‘ gormandising machines,’ so throws up
poultry-keeping in disgust. If we were to return to rearing our old
English game for quality, Dorkings (not the great show Dorkings,
but the pure old breed) for quantity, and Minorcas or Hamburghs
for eggs, which will pick up enough to live on where Brahmas or
Plymouth Rocks would starve, we should soon get more eggs and
better quality of market poultry; the Asiatic breeds all have too
much waste and offal, and wherever there is immense size there is
extreme coarseness to correspond, there being as much difference in
old English game and Asiatic as in the best and coarsest cuts of
beef in the London markets, yet the public pay the same price
for poultry whether good or bad, although there is scarcely any
meat that differs more in quality.”

MUFFS.

Of muffs there are almost all colours; their only difference con-
sisting in a thick muff or growth of feathers under the throat in both
cock and hen. They generally run large, and are strong in consti-
42

tution, while they have a singular appearance. They are chiefly
bred in Cumberland and in the North, and are usually excellent
layers and good game birds.

TASSELLS.

Some of the very best birds we have in England are known as
“tassells;”’ that is, they have a small tassell or tuft of feathers on
the top of the head behind the comb. In the cock it varies from a’
few long feathers, extending straight back, to a small tuft. The
hens have a more pronounced topknot, sometimes as large as a
walnut, of round shape, and the feathers standing nearly upright,
but bending over towards the back and giving them an animated
and spirited appearance. An old writer on game fowls, from whose
book most of the more modern ones were taken, and who wrote
some two centuries and a-half ago, says, ‘‘ The best hennes are the
tufte hennes.’’ Ralph Benson’s famous reds were of this breed.
By a few they were called red-duns, but they were really brown
reds, with less black than the more modern stamp. They were
strong-boned, good birds, and noted for their game qualities;
indeed, all the tassells now kept are noted birds in the pit, getting
more savage and revengeful on being struck. The best known
strains are black and brown breasted reds with dark eyes, beaks
and legs. They are generally excellent layers.
43

CHAPTER V.

THE SPORT OF COCKING.

TRUST I have written enough on the various breeds of
game to afford my readers who, are not already conver-
sant with them, some information as to their chief
characteristics. There are many additional and provincial local
names of the breeds here mentioned, but were I to add them it
would only cause confusion, without effecting any useful purpose.
It will be noted that the colour of the breast is always given. Tho
reason was that in old times when cocks were trimmed for the pit
the hackle, tail and other parts were cut or trimmed, but the breast
was left intact. Hence the birds were described as black-breasted
blacks or smock-breasted smocks, as the case might be.

A few further remarks on cock-fighting, as formerly carried on,
are necessary. After which we will consider the useful qualities
and general management, &c., of game fowls, which will doubtless
be of more interest to the general reader. Yet a monograph on
the breed would be incomplete without some description of the
sport.

It has already been stated at what an early age cock-fighting
was practised in Britain; it has been proved that the Romans fol-
lowed the sport here, as metal spurs for cocks have been found,
with other Roman remains, in Cornwall, and I believe that there
isa specimen in the British Museum, and it is thought that the
ancient Britons themselves practised the sport in some form pre-
vious to the Roman invasion. It has continued as one of our Eng-
lish sports up to the present time. Many cock-pits are still in
existence that were built especially for the sport, though they are
now turned to other purposes; one being a Dissenting Chapel,
another a confectioner’s factory, a third a theatre, and so on.
“The Sod” has generally gone hand in hand with ‘The Turf.”
Newmarket was a great centre of cocking, and of course, London,

 
44
Staffordshire, Lancashire, Worcestershire, Cheshire and Devon,
were also great counties for the sport; the cock-matches were
noted equally with the races, and “‘ Hebor's list of horse-races and
cock-matches” was published annually at Newmarket some eighty
years ago. The races were put on one side until the main of cocks
had been fought, while at the Quarter Sessions there was generally
a main fought ere the magistrates returned to their homes, and such
were the amounts staked, that at one main fought at Lincoln, the

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE EARL’S PILE,
Winner of many Battles.

(From a priut in the possession of Mr, Jno. Harris, Liskeard.)

stakes were £1,000 each battle, and £5,000 on the odds or main.
Gwenep pit is the largest in England, where it is said cocks were
fought in spurs of silver and also of gold.

Spurs were long ago known as gaffles or goblocks, and were made
of iron, brass, or silver. The silver spurs used had a portion of cop-
per in their composition and were much stronger and more elastic
45

than the finest steel. There is no maker of silver spurs in England
at the present time. All matches and mains of importance were
fought in silver, they being not quite so immediately destructive as
steel; there was time for the birds to show their powers of endur-
ance and their gameness more fully. The shapes varied sume-
what in their curves, &c., but the twisted heels, slashers (like a
two-edged sword), and three-edged spurs, as used abroad, were
not allowed under English rules; some objecting to drop sockets,

 

BLACK-RED GAME COCK.
Gold Cup Winner at the Coch Pit Royal, 1818.

(From a priut in the possession of Mr. Jno. Harris, Liskeard.)

that is, the blade starting below the socket, thus throwing the spur
lower on the leg; but the law in reality simply said, ‘in fair
reputed silver spurs.’’ Foul spurs were sometimes made, that is
of steel, but with a thick coating of silver covering them, except at
the point, which was only just thinly plated.

The art of heeling a cock consisted in setting the spur on a line
46

with the outside of the hock, in the same direction as the natural
spur; if too far towards the outside the blows would be ineffectual,
while if set too far in, it would cause the cock to cut his own throat.
The spurs required to be padded firm at the socket, and tied on so
tightly as not to move (since if they came off in the fight they were
not allowed to be replaced), at the same time if too tight they would
cramp the cock.

In breeding birds for the pit several points had to be attended
to; courage, of course, was of the greatest importance to fight to
the death, but this alone was useless, unless the cock was a good
heeler; the piles and some other breeds were noted for having
deadly heels. The cocks also required to have good mouths, for
although they should not take hold with the beak early in the battle,
when they are a little weary, it enabled them to give strength to
the blow. Another requisite was that they should “come to every
point,” that is that they should take hold and strike at any part of
thsir opponent within reach, be it wing, tail, or any part; a hasty
manner of fighting sometimes denotes a want of bottom or game-
ness. Shifty cocks, although they sometimes won, were not
admired; the action in fighting should be rapid without hurrying,
quick, but cautious and wary, to break well with his adversary, that
is to parry or ward off the blow, and then hit; since when they both
hit together a thigh or wing is often broken. A cock should always
press his opponent when he has the advantage, never letting him
rise when he has him down.

Cocks varied much in weight in proportion to their size, some
being heavy-fleshed, and their bones solid and heavy; while others,
even larger, weighed much less from having lighter quality of bone,
and being more corky and light in flesh, and these were generally
preferred for matches, most cockers thinking a big cock to his
weight desirable.

The cock must have been allowed to run as master for sometime
previous to fighting; and a good walk where he obtained plenty of
exercise and could not be annoyed by other fowls was required, with
not too many hens. Previous to fighting he was placed under the
care of the “‘ Feeder,’ in order to get him in the best possible train-
ing and condition, as is now the case with human athletes, race-
horses, or grey-hounds, and quite as much art and experience are
required in the one case as in the other; and such names as Fisher,
Wading, Bromley, Potter, Gilliver, Nash, and Varley, with Parker,
47

Woodcock, Martin, and others are remembered as adepts in the art;
nearly all these had systems peculiarly their own, and the directions
for feeding and treating cocks in training are many and various.
Extraordinary things were given them and most curious compounds.

Bread made of fine flour, oatmeal, and the whites of eggs, with a
little cinnamon, was perhaps the simplest; while some cock breads
contained nearly a score of ingredients. Peameal was also used
and pearl barley; while such things as barley-sugar, hempseed,
aniseed, carrawayseed, ginger, rhubarb, yeast and anna were recom-
mended as foods or drugs in various receipts. The following were
the lines on which most birds were treated, although minor details
differed in almost every case. The Feeder carefully examined each
cock that was sent to him to see that he was in perfect health; he
judged this by his looking red in the face, his crow being clear, and
his feathers being glossy and tight, and his flesh feeling firm to the
touch, and by the length and sharpness of his toe-nails, if he had
been on a good walk. If considered fit his spurs were sawn off to
about half an inch in length, his tail somewhat shortened and he
was placed in a pen. These pens were about three feet high and
soine two feet square, made of board, with two spars in front to
admit light and air, and to enable the cock to put his head through
to get at his food in the trough attached to each; they were placed
in rows about three feet from the ground. The cocks were then
usually given some physic, such as rhubarb, senna, or jalap, and
covered up close, or sweated, they were then sparred, each pair of
cocks having muffles, similar to pads or boxing gloves, tied over
their short spurs to prevent injury, about two or three sparrings
were usually given in the course of their training, this not only got
them into practise, and improved their wind, but also rendered
them eager, so that they would commence fighting at once on being
put down, since in a match a cock that walked round his opponent
and crowed, &¢., would probably be struck by the other cock before he
had begun fighting. Too much sparring had a contrary effect, and
would destroy their courage. They were fed sparingly on nourish-
ing food for some eight or ten days, and were lightened of all
superfluous flesh and weight by physic, feeding and exercise, and
were weighed three days before the main. After weighing they
were fed more liberally, and it was lawful to increase their weight
again by any kind of feeding. Sometimes large cocks were reduced
very much to fight within the articles of agreement, aud after
48

weighing were recovered by jelly, eggs, isinglass, and all kinds of
strengthening foods. About fourteen to sixteen ounces is as much as
any cock should lose, and some will require to gain rather than lose
weight in their training. On the weighing day the match bills were
compared, in which all the marks of the cocks, their colours, and
full description were taken together with their weights.

The following is an agreement for a cock-match :—

Articles of agreement made the day of 181—- between W.
and J.C i

First, the said parties have agreed that each of them shall produce, shew, and
weigh, at the Cockpit on the day of next, beginning
at the hour of o’clock in the said morning cocks, none to be less than
three pounds six ounces, nor more than four pounds eight ounces, and as many of
each parties’ cocks as come within two ounces of the other parties’ cocks, shali
fight for guineas a battle—that is guineas each cock, in as equal
divisions as the battle can be divided into as pits, or days’ play, at the cockpit
aforesaid; and that the parties’ cocks that win the greatest number of battle-
matches out of the numter aforesaid, shall be entitled to the sum of guineas
as odd battle money, and the sum is to be made stakes into the hands of Mr.
before any cocks are pitted, in equal shares between the parties aforesaid ; and
the parties further agree to produce, shew, and weigh, on the said weighing
day, cocks, for bye battles, subject to the same as the main cocks
before-mentioned, and those to be added to the number of main cocks un-
matched ; and as many of them as come within one ounce of each other shall
fight for two guineas each battle, to be as equally divided as can be, and added to
each pit or days’ play with the main of cocks; and it is also agreed that the
balance of the battle money shall be paid at the end of each pit or days’ play ;
and to fight in fair reputed silver spurs, and with fair hackles, and to be subject
to all the usual rules of cock-fighting as is practised in London and Newmarket;
and the profit of the pit or days’ play to be equally divided between the said
parties, after all charges are paid and satisfied, that usually are thereupon.

5

 

 

 

Witness our hands this day of 181—.
Witness W. S$.
J.W. J.C.

RULES FOR MATCHING AND FIGHTING COCKS IN
LONDON.

To begin the same by fighting the lighter pair of cocks (which
fallin match) first proceeding upwards to the end, that every lighter
pair may fight earlier than those that are heavier.

In matching (with relation to the battles) it is a rule always in
London that after the cocks of the main be weighed the match bills
be compared.

That every pair of equal or dead weights are separated and
fight against others provided that it appears that the main can be
enlarged by adding thereto either one battle or more thereby. The
49

above were some of the rules and regulations required in the sport
of matches. However there were various kinds.

A cock previous to fighting was ‘cut out of feather,” i.¢., his
hackle trimmed short, the sickle feathers all cut from the tail,
leaving only the fan or straight tail feathers, which were shortened
about half; the ends of the flight feathers cut off, the ends of the
long saddle feathers, and the feathers round the vent and belly cut
close ; the artificial spurs being then tied on the bird was ready for
action. It is almost needless to say that throughout their training
cocks were kept scrupulously clean, with fresh straw in their pens,
their beaks and feet washed daily and their legs rubbed. The
handler required a quick eye and hand and a steady head, to take in
and make the most of every chance in the batitle.

Of mains the most usual was the short main, i.c., to show,
weigh and fight (say) twenty-one cocks on each side; the stakes
being so much each battle and so much on the odd battle or main,
an odd number being always provided to prevent the contingency
of a draw—which sometimes, however, happened (in the last
battle both cocks have been struck dead at the same time). At the
Cockpit Royal at Westminster sixty-three pairs were usually
shown. They were weighed three days previous to fighting; the
colour of breast, eyes, beak and legs taken, as well as colour of
body, and any peculiar or distinctive marks they might have, to
prevent the possibility of their being changed in the match. All
that weighed within one ounce of each other were matched and
divided into three or six days’ play, the lightest pair commencing
the fight. This was the long main.

The Battle Royal is proverbial. In this any number of persons
stake a certain sum, and each produces one cock under a given
weight, when the cocks are all put in the pit together, the last
survivor taking the whole stakes.

In the ‘‘ Welsh Main” sixteen cocks are matched in pairs, the
nearest weights being matched together; the eight winners are
then fought, and soon. The ultimate winner having to fight four
battles. This is the severest trial of all. Immense sums were
formerly staked on these mains. Indeed, at one fought at Lincoln,
not so very long ago, the stakes were £1,000 each battle and
£5,000 on the main (or odd battle).

At two years old a cock was considered in his prime for fighting,
previous to which he was taken up from his walk and handed over
50

to the care of the ‘‘feeder’”’ (or trainer). These men were con-
sidered as important as the trainer of race-horses is to-day, and
each had a system more or less exclusively his own, which he
believed superior to all others. Their duties were to get the cock
as light as they could without injury to his health on the weighing
day, in other words, to produce as large a bird to his weight as
possible, at the same time to keep him in the very highest degree
of health, spirit, strength, and wind. After the weighing it was their
aim again to increase his weight. Their art was to simply divest him
of fat and superfluous flesh in the same manner in which racehorses
or athletes are prepared at present. Physic, sweating, exercise,
were all used to attain this end, and as no cock can remain at the
very top of his condition for long together, they used every endeavour
to arrive at this point on the day of battle. It was in this particu-
lar that the best feeders especially showed their superiority; and
when it is remembered that each cock would vary somewhat in con-
dition and constitution when he was first put in the feeder’s pens,
it will be seen that this was no easy matter. There are many rules
and receipts laid down for feeding cocks, and many curious com-
pounds were sometimes given them, the receipts of each feeder
varying to such a degree that it seems unnecessary to give them
here. Judgment was the chief thing; some birds requiring to lose
much weight, others rather to be increased than reduced. They
were usually fed for nine or ten days before fighting, before which
event they were trimmed or “ cut out of feather,” that is, the hackle
was cut off short, the wing feathers cut from the last sloping feather
downwards, the feathers of the belly and vent trimmed short and
the long sickle feathers cut from the tail, leaving only the vane, or
fan, which was shortened about half. The cock’s natural spurs were
cut off about half an inch from the leg, and the silver or steel spur
tied on, the socket fitting over the natural spur, and the point
extending back on a line with the outside of the hock (or rather
outside the line of the natural spur). Much art was supposed to
be necessary in putting on these weapons. It is mere ignorance
which would describe them as cruel. With natural spurs the
combat lasts far longer; whilst with artificial spurs the longest
fight is over in a few minutes. They therefore actually lessen the
sufferings of the birds by shortening them. Silver spurs were used
by the Romans, specimens having been found in Cornwall and else-
where amongst Roman remains. They were somewhat different
51

in shape from those now used. The curves and shapes of spurs
were arrived at by mathematical calculation, and the quality of the
metal must be the most exquisite, as nothing but the most per-
fectly tempered metal will stand the shock of the gamecock in
striking, a bird having been known to drive his natural spur an inch
deep into a solid board. The art of making silver spurs is now
almost lost, and is exceedingly laborious and expensive, the most
valued being old ones, as being stronger and lighter than those
made now. Spurs vary from one inch to three and a half inches
in length.

The laws of fighting, put shortly, were as follows. The setters
having put down their cocks six feet apart, kept back, and were not
allowed to take up their bird unless one cock was fast in the other
or in the pit, or hung in himself, in which case they might be
handled and brought to the centre of the pit; if the bird was thrown
on his back it was lawful to turn him over only, but removing
feathers from beak or eyes was not generally allowed. If from
blindness or any cause the cocks cease to fight the law is told, that
is, twice twenty is counted, when they are handled and set again:
this telling the law is repeated as long as both cocks fight, but ten
only is counted at each interval after being put together, either
ceasing to peck is told out by a person counting twice twenty, they
are then breasted beak to beak, and if still refusing ten is counted
and once refused announced and so on until he has refused ten times
when he loses; this is the long law. Should both be disabled and
refuse to fight before the long law begins, it is a drawn battle.
Should both refuse fighting during the counting the winner is the
cock who fought last, but should he die before the counting is
finished he loses the battle, notwithstanding the other did not fight
within the law. The short law is told by a person counting audibly
twice twenty, and afterwards asking three times, Will anyone take
it? If no one accepts the challenge, the cock is beaten. If, how-
ever, it ig desired to stop this counting out, the cock may be, in
the language of the pit, ‘‘ pounded,” when he must fight till death,
and sometimes unexpectedly recovers and wins. Some cocks are so
savage as to be useless in the pit, as they will turn on their handler.

Such are the outlines only of the sport of cock-fighting as
formerly carried on in this country. With regard to the cruelty
attached to the sport, it must be remembered that no man can
encourage or force a cock to fight against his inclination, nor stop
52

him running away if so inclined, that artificial spurs lessen their
sufferings by shortening them. The persons who generally exclaim
most against the sport are those who are not conversant with the
nature of the game cock, and have never seen a cock-fight, they must
therefore be incapable of forming a correct judgment on the subject.
It must also not be forgotten that the game cock was reared in
every enjoyment and luxury till two years old, and then had a fair
chance of his life; whereas an ordinary chicken is reared until some
five or six months old, perhaps crammed, and finally killed, not
always by any means in as merciful a manner as the game cock.
It is not desired to write a defence of the sport, but simply to put
both sides of the question before the reader, who will I trust
approach the subject with what one of our greatest statesmen calls
‘an open mind.”
HUMANS
}

Hy} i
Hi
Y

aM
WN

WA Y

i

i WR N
\

i

}
HN

HEADS OF MUFFED GAME.

 

HEADS OF TASSELL GAME.
CHAPTER VI.

THE USEFUL PROPERTIES OF OLD ENGLISH GAME.

aes NOUGH has already been written of the history, points,
: and fighting of game fowls; let us now turn to what is
: of more interest to the general fancier, viz., their useful
qualities. It has already been stated that old English game stand in
front of any variety whatever as table fowls; carrying, as they do,
the largest proportion of white, delicate, and nutritious meat, with
the smallest amount of waste, offal, or bone. They carry more
breast meat in proportion to their size than any other fowl, and
killed from a good run they more than other fowls resemble the
pheasant in flavour. Many strains of game are excellent layers of
good sized and beautifully flavoured eggs; hennies, black breasted
reds, and piles, standing first in this respect. If checked when
wanting to sit they will continue laying for some time. I have
had game hens lay over sixty eggs before becoming broody, and
continue laying throughout the greater part of the year.

As sitters and mothers they are invaluable, quiet on their eggs,
close sitters, regular in leaving and returning to their nest, and
when the brood is hatched they are the best of mothers, not tramp-
ling and killing their chickens by treading them under foot, as is
often the case with large and heavy breeds; whilst against cats,
vermin, or indeed any enemy, they will defend them to the last.
Another recommendation is that, according to their size and weight,
they have smaller appetites, and can subsist on less food than any
variety ; indeed, on a good run they will almost get their own living,
foraging everywhere, not standing idly about as in the case of the
Asiatic breeds, but ever moving.

They are very valuable for an unprotected place, whether it be
a wild run, or near a road or a stable yard, both from their aciivity
in avoiding danger themselves and their courage in defending their

    
56

little ones. They will not bear fattening, but are always full of meat
if on a good range, and with suitable food they are plump and
meaty from little chickens, while their quick growth and hardihood
are two other valuable points not to be lost sight of. They will
roost in the trees throughout the winter with impunity, indeed they
never do so well, nor show such splendid condition and plumage
as when they roost in trees or open sheds, &c., the year round.

Finally, we may say that, although they are unable to stand
close confinement for long together, yet there is no fowl so suitable
to persons who breed poultry for their own table and have a good
run for them. They are the fowls for the country gentleman, for
the outlying farmsteads, for the cottager who has a run for them
in the green lane or common, for anyone who has a meadow,
orchard, or copse, where they can run during the day and forage
for themselves, and reward their owner by their healthy appearance,
a plentiful supply of eggs and fine condition; their beautiful colours,
and their graceful movements, so superior to and more attractive
than those of the common breed of fowls. The cocks, unless old,
are seldom anything but gallant in searching for food for the
hens and calling them to partake of some choice morsel; while, in
defence of his seraglio, a game cock with full natural spurs has
been known to kill a fox; and many a thieving rat has fallen a
victim. I have a little Derby hen in my possession, as I write,
that killed a weasel in defence of her brood. Seven chickens lay
dead, and the hen was wounded by his teeth; but at some little
distance lay the weasel, where he had crawled away and died of
the wound he had received from the gallant and courageous little
hen.
57

CHAPTER VII.

MANAGEMENT AND MATING OF THE BREEDING
STOCK,

T was the practice of old cockers (and they knew a hun-
dred times more of the art of breeding than we do at
present) to put a full-grown stag (or young cock) with six

full-blooded sisters of not less than two years old, strictly avoiding
pullets, unless they were to breed with an old cock of four or five
years. Almost all the prominent breeders of the present day
object also to breed from pullets, and unless they are fully a year
old I would certainly not do so, as the chickens are never so strong as
from an adult hen. The male-bird should be also quite nine or ten
months old, and in this case he should be mated to old hens
certainly not less than two years of age. The rule of the old
breeders in breeding from adult stock on both sides (and this was
usually held to produce the strongest birds) was one cock with
three hens, and if both birds are over two years old this number
should not be exceeded. Personally, I have always noticed the
best results from a cockerel with four hens or an old cock with
three, or, if not very vigorous, two hens.

While we hear a great deal about the degeneracy caused by in-
breeding (that is, the breeding together of birds already closely
related), it is an undoubted fact that nearly all the best strains of
game in England were produced by a system of in-breeding, and
old breeders for the pit seldom crossed their stock. I know a case
of a gentleman who had some noted fighting birds, and seeing a
cock that caught his eye while fighting he bought him, and bred
from him and his own hens. The produce proved far worse than
either parents, and were almost worthless. An old breeder who
crossed his fowls about twenty years ago, assured me he could go
on without fresh blood for another twenty years and the stock
would show no deterioration. And there is no doubt that where a
good many pens are bred of the same blood and a correct account

4

  
 

‘as
58

kept of their relationships, the most distant being bred together, it
is possible to go on much longer than is generally supposed; pro-
vided, of course, that none but the strongest and finest specimens
are bred from, and they have good runs, &. On the other hand,
some breeders are always crossing, and our American cousins cross
as much as possible, and exclaim against inbreeding as the source
of all evils.

In breeding game fowls the male bird has not so much influence
as in somé other breeds. ‘The limit of weight for cocks was for-
merly 8 Ibs. 6 ozs. to 4 lbs. 8 ozs., when in condition to fight.
Birds in ordinary condition would be about 1 Ib. heavier, although
there were always much larger birds bred, as at present, which
were known as turnouts or shakebags, and usually fought in single
matches. .The cock has most influence in colour of plumage, head
and fancy points.

The hen usually gives size and shape, and if spurred, so much
the better. Cockerels resemble the father, pullets the mother, as a
rule, to a certain extent. None but birds of strong constitution and
in perfect health should be selected to breed from. An old author
on the subject says, ‘‘ Rottenness requires no cure, but total
eradication.”

Of course a quiet place, with a good range away from other
fowls, is the best place to breed game fowls, and although they may
be bred in small runs they never do so well, indeed close confine-
ment for any length of time destroys their constitution, and the hens
cease laying. If they have houses to roost in, see that they are
clean, well ventilated, and free from draught; also that they are
lighted in some way, as fowls will not resort to a dark house unless
compelled. The perches should be round, about the thickness of a
man’s wrist, fir poles with the bark left on are suitable. If higher
than four or five feet from the ground the fowls have not room to
fly down, as they have from a tree in the open; consequently they
bruise their breasts or feet, The floor should be covered with road
sweepings, sand, ashes, or peat moss litter, and the nests for the
hens on the ground as secluded as possible, and hidden by a board
or other means, that the hens may be quiet and unobserved when
they wish to lay. Birds having full liberty will require little besides
a few handfuls of corn night and morning, clean water, and cleanli-
ness in the house and surroundings, without which no birds will
retain their health long. Barley and wheat are the best corn for
59

game; good sound grain, not rubbish; with occasionally oats, peas,
er maize; maize, however, is too fattening except in very cold
weather, and stops the production of eggs. A little oatmeal or
middlings, or, in winter, barley meal mixed with a few boiled
potatoes, and a little meat or broth, is good for a morning meal
occasionally, but the evening meal should always be good sound
corn. Besides this fowls require a supply of green food of some
kind; sharp grit, without which they cannot digest what they eat ;
and some broken oystershell or lime in some form for the formation
of eggs. A dust bath is also necessary for them to clean their
feathers and free themselves from vermin. Eggs from the breeding
pen should be collected at least daily, duly marked at the small end
with date and distinguishing mark, and placed in a box in a dry
place, imbedded in chaff or bran and turned daily. This is all
necessary, and will prevent mistakes in setting stale eggs, é&c.
60

CHAPTER VIII.

SITTING, HATCHING, REARING, &c..

F the eggs are to be set under the hen that has laid them, she
should be in a quiet place, and undisturbed by other hens,
If, however, as is often. the case, a strange hen is obtained,
a small box having no bottom,.or.a-board bottom if preferred, should
be procured ; it should be large enough for the hen. to-have room to
turn without crumpling her tail feathers, as unless she is com-
fortable she will probably not sit steadily. A quiet place is
desirable for hatching, a turf two inches thick, the size of the
bottom of the nest, may be used for a foundation, or put in the nest
a good shovelful of earth. Beat this down well with the hand to
resemble the shape of a saucer, the centre being the lowest part.
Get some dry fern or oatstraw, well rub with the hand to make
it soft and lie close, and make a nice nest; place two or three nest
eggs in it, and in the evening put your hen quietly on and shut her
in, either by a sack over the front, or other means. Next day she
should be taken off to feed, and if she does not go back in about
twenty minutes she should be caught as quietly as possible and
replaced and covered in as before; the second morning she will
generally return of her own accord. Sitting hens should be fed once
a day, in the morning, with corn and water; they can be all taken
off together, and at the end of twenty minutes those that have not
returned may be gently driven towards the nests, when they will
generally go on. They can then be shut in, and the dung, &c.,
swept up and the place kept clean, Should an egg get broken in
the nest the others may be put into a bucket of warm water at
about 70° Fahr., and gently washed clean and put back under the
hen, otherwise they will all stick together and be constantly break-
ing, or sticking to the feathers of the hen. On the twenty-first day
the chickens usually make their appearance ; some latitude should,
however, be allowed, as sometimes they come out a day or so

  
61

darlier, and are sometimes a day or two behind time. Therefore if
a valuable brood is expected, and only a few are hatched out, the
remainder should be put under another hen, as the first, finding
the chickens moving beneath her, will raise herself up and allow the
remaining eggs to get chilled.

The chickens hatched out should be left undisturbed for twenty-
four hours, they may then be taken and placed under a coop with
the hen in adry place. If the coop has a board bottom it should be
covered two inches deep with dry earth to prevent cramp in the
chickens. Chickens can stand cold, but none can withstand damp.
The first food should be finely chopped hard boiled egg and stale
bread crumbs, moistened, if desired, with a little new milk. They
should have food every two hours, and if early in the year, should
be fed the last thing by lamplight. At the endof a fortnight every
three hours will be sufficient, and after the first month four or five
times a day. After the first week coarse oatmeal, boiled or raw,
mixed with fresh milk, a little canary or hemp seed, and animal food
occasionally, grit and green food, once a week a little boiled rice
may be given, Spratt’s meal and Crissel, and dog biscuit broken up
small and soaked, are also good food. Change is the great thing,
and to give them just as much as they will clear up and no more.
From the first few days corn may be gradually begun, such as small
broken wheat, &c.; this should be given at night or the last feed.
Tf water is given it must be kept out of the sun and changed
frequently, otherwise it will produce diarrhoea. Many breeders
give no water until the chicks are two or three months old, but let
them have milk to drink twice a day, taking it away as soon as they
have had sufficient. Frequently at this age the whole brood will
commence fighting and one will attain the mastery, which, if not
interfered with, he will keep until they are five or six months old.
In this, however, there seems no rule, some will fight so that one
or two of the brood may be spoilt or killed at seven or eight weeks
old ; at other times they will remain peaceably together until as many
months. At the age of ten or eleven weeks they should be allowed
to roost. The hen will go to roost and they will crowd round on each
side. If they do not roost in the trees they must have a perch
suitable to their size, as if too large some will become duck-footed,
that is, the hind toe brought round sideways, generally caused by
the perch being too big for them to grasp. The breeder should
oceasionally just feel their breast bones as they are on the perch.
62

If there is the slightest deviation from the straight line, or any
indentation the bird should be put in a hamper for a week or so at
night, and not allowed to roost, the bone will then probably have
recovered its form, if not too far gone at first. The large breeds of
game are more subject to this than the smaller birds. A good
old cock running with cockerels will generally prevent them from
fighting, in fact will not allow them to do so, but if at all savage will
strike and permanently injure some of them. It is well, therefore,
if running with cock chickens, to remove his spurs.

At the age of about six months, or when the comb and wattles
are fully grown, the cockerels should be dubbed. An attendant
should hold the bird, the operator, with a pair of very sharp
scissors, should take off the wattle close, but not pull it at all.
Then taking hold of the lower beak with one finger in the bird’s
mouth, and the thumb at the back of his head, he should, with his
right hand, commence at the back of the comb close to the head,
and with one cut take the comb fairly close off to the beak ; the ear-
lobes may then be just trimmed off, and the bird tossed up, when,
if a few grains of corn are thrown down he will generally commence
to eat, or will eat his own comb if he has the chance. There is
very little pain attending this operation, if properly done, and it takes
less than a minute. The beginner should get some old hand to
show him the process, as he will learn better by seeing than by any
written instructions. Some take off the comb quite close to the
head, others leave a little; this is a matter of taste. I dislike
myself to see them cut too close. After dubbing the young cocks
will commence to fight and must be divided, or sent out on separate
walks.

Some breeders separate cockerels and pullets at an early age,
and a lot of cockerels will run peaceably together for some time pro-
vided all sight of a hen or pullet is kept from them; the sight of
one would be the signal for a battle royal. Opinions differ as to
whether finer birds are obtained by the separation of the sexes; it
is generally thought that this is the case. One caution is neces-
sary,—it is impossible to breed fine fowls, or to keep healthy stock
if there is any over-crowding either on the ground or in the houses.
It is better to have twenty healthy birds than a hundred diseased,
and all sorts of complaints will appear if too many are kept. The
smaller the number the better they thrive, always.
63

GHAPTER IX.

 

EXHIBITING.

& HEN the amateur thinks he has abird or birds good enough
to make a creditable appearance at a show, he should take
care that the show where he enters them is one where a
competent judge is officiating. The birds will probably require no
preparation, if on a good run, until the day before the show, when
the legs, feet, beak and face should be washed; the legs and feet
well scrubbed clean with soap and water, a piece of flannel with
‘‘just a suspicion of vaseline” or olive oil, rubbed over and wiped
off again with a clean handkerchief. The face may be just touched
with vinegar and a little oil, and wiped clean, which will brighten
the red, and the bird put into a well lined hamper with plenty of
straw at the bottom, and dispatched by a train that will take them
to the show as quickly as possible.

In bad weather they sometimes require shutting in a clean room
or shed with clean straw for them to scratch in for a few days
previous to the show. Oatmeal and Indian corn boiled together to
a jelly, with a little linseed, a feed of split peas at night, and grit,
green food and clean water with a little sulphate of iron in it, will
keep them in good condition and spirit. On returning from the
show a feed of soft food should be given, after which they can be
returned to their usual runs. It is allowable to remove the feathers
standing up on each side of the cock’s comb; further than that uo
trimming is permissible.

 
64

CHAPTER xX.

 

_ DISEASES.

” HERE is no need to give here a full description of the
treatment of diseases. Several works are published on
the subject, within the reach of all. We will just men-
tion a few of the most common ailments.

Moulting is not a disease, but sometimes requires. treatment
A little extra nourishing food, a feed of hemp-seed, and once or twice
a week a little sulphur in the soft food may be given, and if the tail
feathers do not grow properly a little vaseline should be applied to
the roots. Ifany vermin are present powdered sulphur or insect
powder dusted into the feathers will destroy them.

Bumble-Foot is caused by high perches or hard floors, the birds
coming down heavily on their feet, or treading on some sharp sub-
stance, or bruising the sole of the foot. In the early stages painting
with tincture of arnica is good; if advanced and matter formed two
cuts should be made crosswise, the matter squeezed out and the foot
fomented with hot water, and a dressing put on consisting of one
part carbolic acid and ten parts olive oil. If this does not effect a
cure blue stone or caustic must be applied or the foot poulticed
with linseed meal. The bird should be kept on a bed of soft straw
or moss, and not allowed to roost until well.

Foup.—tThis is the worst disease to which poultry are subject ;
any bird showing symptoms of it should at once be removed from
the rest, and completely isolated. The symptoms of roup are an
offensive smell arising from the nose and mouth, frothy bubbles,
and sometimes pus at the corner of the eyes, round which the head
is swollen, and sometimes the bird is unable to see. A solution of
sulphate of copper to wash eyes, nostrils, and mouth is recom-
mended, as is also a weak solution of carbolic acid. Pills consisting
of half a grain of sulphate of copper, one third of a grain of hydras-
tin, oil of copaiba three drops, powdered charcoal, and ginger are

 
 
65

recommended to be given twice daily. Another remedy is to
syringe the mouth and nostrils with water in which sufficient per-
manganate of potash to give a rich colour is dissolved, Another—
equal parts pulverised alum, acetic acid, and sugar of lead, to be used
in the same manner.

Cold.—Sometimes comes on suddenly, with running at the
nostrils and swelling round the eyes, resembling roup, into which
it will develop if not checked. If the face is swollen foment with
hot water, wash out nostrils and roof of the mouth with very weak
solution of carbolic.acid in rain water, give three or. four drops
camphorated oil, and a teaspoonful of glycerine for two or three
nights and some finely chopped green rue made into pills with a
little butter daily; give soft food, and keep warm and free from
draughts.

Indigestion.—Give the bird a teaspoonful and a half of olive oil,
and feed entirely on soft warm food for a while until recovered.

Canker.—Paint daily with carbolic acid one part, glycerine ten
parts, first scraping off the discoloured portions.

Scaly leg —Thoroughly cleanse the affected parts with soap and
water and a hard brush, and thoroughly work into the scales an
ointment made, of sulphur and soft paraffin.

Bruises and wounds should be well bathed with hot water, or
warm water and milk, and wounds dressed with carbolic acid one
part, .and.olive oil fifty parts.

Gapes' are confined to chickens; subjecting them to the fumes
of carbolic acid will effect a cure. Chickens should have frequent
attention to discover if they are infested by lice, which in the warm
weather kill many, as they become thin and have no strength.

Flowers of sulphur dusted well into the feathers, or an ointment
of sulphur, lard, and paraffin, rubbed on the head and under the
belly will destroy them.
INDEX.

PAGE
Agreement for Cock Match we 48
Battle Royal... sae see we «49
Birchens ise ane ai ww. 383
Blacks 23, 27, 36

Black-breasted Reds. 20, 28, 29, 30, 31
Black-breasted Silver Duckwings 23

Blue-reds__... oi ae ine ZL,
Brass Wings ... a ee ies
Breeding ny io 46, 57
Preeds and Goladrs.. ae we 26
Bright-reds ... sie ais vax. 12)

Brown-reds_ ... ik whe 21, 31
Bruises and Wounds tae w. «65
Bumblefoot ... ave pie aa G4
Canker eG gas on we =65
Chickens ais iat ww. «61
Cock Fighting in England... ww = 13
Cocking at nia we 43
Cock Pits... ny ‘ial wes 14
Cold .. ‘is ae sia ws 65
Cuckoos a sie eed w» 87
Diseases ih ik ‘ind we C4
‘Dubbing... ne ste we 62
Duckwings ... axe fh 22, 32
Duns . ad 27, 35
Early Hanae ‘of Gaate Pigkting wx AO
Exhibiting ... ili Seta a. 63
Feeders a id on ieee EG
Feeding ate wan we AT
Game in Hanticsiaent its vee «5G
Gapes... sate se cae we GS
Ginger-reds ... ae ia we Bl
Greeks aie ats aid .. 10
Greys... tits die ae 27, 32
Hatching... sine sie we 60
Heeling ov ssi so wwe 45

 

PAGE
Heanies re 27, 37
Indian Cock Fighters 2 aa 10
Indian Game.. a0 vit wee 27
Indigestion ... wee 65
King Charles IT. su: Reel Fighting 13
Laws of Fighting ... ‘ies we 5M
List of Colours te ici we 25
Lord Derby’s Reds ... aig me 228
Mains... i sei sete . 49
Management... 63 ia ue Bt
Modern Game wee ie ws 16
Moulting... a43 sae we «64
Muffs.. ine ee 27, 41
Old Bustial Game in nehe Show Tea 16
Origin and History .. ne we 16
Piles .. i 22, 27, 34, 35
Points of Game Fowls bis we 19
Reds .., nde nee ile ve «26
Romans is sit ot we 10
Roup .. we «G4
Rules for Matching anil Fighting. » 49
Scale of Points iis ies wen, 2H
Sealy Leg... we 65
Sitters and Mothers, Old Hostish
Gameas ... ane wis me OD,
Sitting bs a ‘s wv» 60
Spangles ag ae ss ww. «24
Sport of Cocking ... ies ae 43
Spurs ... si oe diag wee 4k
Standard sit e a wae 19
Tassels de oie ats 27, 42
Useful Properties .., sie we «55
Welsh Main .., ae ivy 49
Whites » 23, 27, 36

Wild Varieties ae ae cow 9)
Yellow Duckwings ,.. fe 22, 33
Advertisements.

CHAMBERLIN’S
CANADIAN POULTRY MEAL,

THE CHEAPEST FOOD IN THE WORLD FOR

TURKEYS, GEESE,. DUCKS, AND CHICKENS.
Received the ONLY AWARD given by the International Jury, Paris
Exhibition, for Poultry Food.

Bronze Medal and Diploma, Mannheim, 1880. Silver Medal, Antwerp
Exhibition, 1885.

 

rd URKEYS, Geese, Ducks, and Chickens fed on this Meal
~ thrive wonderfully, are kept free from Disease, and will lay
s nearly double the number of eggs. Fowls commence laying about
seven months old. Turkeys, so difficult to breed, are reared with the
a> greatest success upon this Meal, with scarcely a loss of three per
cent. If shut up they will fatten in a very short time, and the
™ colour and delicacy of the meat is surprising. It is invaluable in
cold and exposed situations, and success at Poultry Shows is also
assured by the use of this Meal.

Numerous Testimonials on Application.

Price 20s. per cwt., including 12 packets of
Aromatic Compound and bag. Packed alsoin Three-
pound Packets, 6d. each.

KALYDE,

An Infallible Cure for Gapes in Pheasants and Chickens.
2s. per Tin; Post Free, 2s. 6d.

ROUP PILLS,

For Poultry, Pigeons, and Cage Birds.

CONDITION PILLS,

For Poultry, Pigeons, and Cage Birds.

free

os

 

 

 

 

8 Guide to Poultry Keeping, New Edition
PEL ‘sory qsod ‘uoryipy Mon ‘Surdeay A[n0g 04 epmy s,ulproqueyg

Chamberlin’

Above Preparations, ls. per Bottle; Post Free, 1s. 2d.

JAMES CHAMBERLIN & SMITH

(Late JAMES CHAMBERLIN),

Game, Poultry, and Dog Food Warehouse,

POST OFFICE STREET, NORWICH.
CHAS.

  
 
 
 
  
  

All
kinds

of
Poultry
Houses
made

to
order.

 

   

=.

CASH PRICES. Carriage Paid.

10ft. by 5ft. (ineludirg run) £4 10
12{t. by Gf. ,, g . 5 10
15ft. by Cft. * ‘4 .. 710

No. 75. Fattening Pen.

 

CASH PRICE.
For Four Fowls £1 8 6

 

ee re.

 

 

All Orders of 40s. value and upwards sent
Carriage Paid to any Goods Station in England
Complete Catalogue of Conserva-
Garden Frames,

and Wales.

tories, Green-houses,

gators, Hand-lights, Poultry Appliances, Pigeon

Cotes, Dog Kennels, Garden Seats,
Post Free for Six Stamps.

  
  
 
 

Exors., Manufacturers, Norwich.

=

SS

No. 74a.

   
  
    

i q

 

 

7
}

}

|

a

 

SS

 

 

   

No. 72.

complete,
&7 10s.

‘| Carriage

a2} Paid.

 

 

Portable Duck House.

| _ Size—tt. long by 2ft. Gin. wide, Sft. high.

Q| Cash Price, Carriage Paid ..£2 7 6

No. 73. Chicken
Coop.

No. 76. Folding
Coop.

 

CASH PRICES.

One Coop, 7/-.

6 Coops, 40/-.

12 Coops, £4.

Wire Netting Bottoms to prevent rats burrowing
underneath, 9d. extra.

oN

&

SS

Oo

~

3

re

Propa-| .
=

: Ll
Chairs, &c., os
ea

and Nesting Box.

 

Six Nests, 22/6.
Twelve Nests, 44/-.

CASH PRICES.
Onw Nest, 4/-.
. Advertisements.

Gane fowls Extraordinary !

00O0000000404400040000000006

MR. JOHN BROUGH,

22, LONDON ROAD,

CARLISLE CUMBERLAND,

Breeder of Thorough-bred came Fowls.

 

OFFERS FOR SALE.—Cocks, Cockerels, Hens
and Pullets, of the following colours:—Blacks; Brassy-
winged; Black,. B. Reds; Brown, B. Reds; Blue. B
Blue Reds; Duns, Spangles; Cuckoos; &., &. These
have been carefully bred from the old strains, which my
father fought so successfully in the London, Liverpool,
Manchester, Newcastle and Newmarket Cock-pits, before
they were suppressed, and latterly have been most -suc-
cessful in the Old English Game Classes at all the
ee Shows, including 3 Specials, 5 Firsts, Wigton ;
First, Birmingham; and three years in succession in
Cockerel and Pullet Classes at the ROYAL SHOWS.
Reference as to their game quality and purity of breed,
to GAMECOCK, of- the “ Fanciers’ Gazette,” &.
Advertisements.

 

Important to Poultry Keepers and Game Raisers,
BROWN’S
AROMATIC GOMPOUND
For Poultry, Game, &.

(Is found of immense benefit by all Keepers of Birds who use it.)
The best Article ever sold to secure Eggs in cold
weather; Assists the process of Moulting;
Should be given to all Birds put up for Fattening,

Has stood the test of nearly a quarter of a century. Testimonials from
all the leading breeders. The cost is merely nominal; a10/- tin sufficient
for 1,000. head for a week; 1s. per week for 100.

Sold in Canisters :—No. 1, 1/3 each; No. 2, 3/- each; No. 3, 5/6 each;
No. 4, 10/- each; No. 5, 20/- each; the larger sizes being greatly
cheaper than the smaller ones. All carriage paid.

CAPSULES OF GUARANTEED QUALITY.

The purest and most effective Medicine known—Cod-liver Oil, Cod-liver
Oil with Quinine, Castor Oil, Charcoal, Astringent, Copaiba, Turpentine,
Areca Nut, Oil of Male Fern, and Santonin. Made in five sizes.

FULL LISTS ON APPLICATION,
I/- per Box, post free, I/lZ; 6 Boxes 5/-, post free

 

 

 

 

CANARYPER, for Colouring Cage-birds, &c., &c., used
successfully for 10 years at home and abroad.

Sold in Tins :—}-lb., 1/3; 4-lb., 2/6, post free; 1-lb., 4/6 ;
4-b. sent carriage paid to any address for 15/-.

E. T. BROWN & SON,
31, Dean Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.

Wholesale Agents—LONDON: BARCLAY & SONS, Ltd., Farringdon St., E.C.;
SANGER & SONS, Oxford Street, W.
CROYDON: JOHN WALTON, St, James’s Road,
Advertisements.

John Wilson Simpson,
ABBEY TOWN, |

SILLOTH, CUMBERLAND,

The most Successful Breeder and Exhibitor of
Qld English Fighting Game.

 

“Scores of Cocks have been supplied
by me for the pit during the last few years,
and’ only one single Cock has ever lost a
battle that I have been informed of.

Cocks and Hens sold by me have won
Specials, Firsts, Cups and other Prizes at
many Shows, including Royal Shows, 1889-

90-91; also Birmingham and other leading

Shows.
Good Birds, both sexes and all ages,

always on hand, including many old noted

Strains.
_ Advertisements.

GEO. MATTHEWS,

VELINDRE, KNIGHTON, RADNOR,

Breeder of Pure Old English Game.

BLACK REDS AND PILES have been carefully bred. for
years from the best blood in England.

J. D. TOOGOOD PARSONS, Jun., Esq.,

ASHURST PLACE, LANGTON, TUNBRIDGE WELLS.

 

 

 

 

‘BREEDER OF

Black Red Old English Game (White-legged),
Lord Derby and other noted Strains.

THOMAS ROPER,

WETHERAL, CUMBERLAND,

Wreeder K Exhibitor of Did English Game

Vern EDP MP“ SEEPS B er eB er mEe REPT ee Nap aoe

Birds for Stock, Exhibition, or Pit purposes always on hand.

 

EGGS IN SBHASON.

ALSO STEEL SPURS OF FINEST QUALITY.

 

Important Notice to Keepers of Poultry, Pigeons & Cage-Birds.
THE EXCELSIOR POULTRY PILLS

Having proved the best Pill ever preparéd for. Poultry, should be tried by all Poultry
Keepers. They have cured thousands of Poultry and Birds of all kinds of the fol-
lowing complaints : Cold, Roup or Croup, Chip, Crampy Spasm, Scour. or Flux,
Scale or Pip, Swollen Eyes and Head, Turn or Giddiness, Canker, Wasting away,
Wind Eggs, Slow Moulting, &. They are a wonderful Pill. By using Excelsior
Poultry Pills you gain healthy birds, plenty of eggs, and strong chicks, If you
eannot get them from your Chemist or Corn-dealer, I send three 2d. boxes for 7d.,
or one case of eighteen for 3s. ; two 6d. boxes for Is. 13d., or one case of twenty-four
for 1ls., carriage paid. Excelsior Poultry Liniment, for Sprains, Swellings,
Bumble Foot, Cramp, Gapes, Leg Weakness, Rheumatism, Canker, Sealy Legs, Wounds,
Sores, Spotted, Ripped, Cracked, and Frostbitten Combs and ‘loes, “The best Lini-
ment in the World for all kinds of Pets. One Bottle 1s. 2d., Four Bottles 4s. post
fre.—W. H. LAKIN, 16, New Bond Street, Leicester, i

 
Advertisements.

LEGHORNS.
L. C. VERREY,

Breeder and LErbibitor of

WHITES, BROWNS +

AND THE NEW

+ VARIETY BUFFS.
BIRDS FOR DISPOSAL

At Reasonable Prices for Exhibition or Stock.

 

 

 

Many Birds from this Yard exported
to the Continent and the Colonies,
where they and their progeny have
proved successful in the Show-Pen.

 

 

ADDRESS—

Oak Lawn, Leatherhead,

SURREY.
Advertisements.

Fr. SxrAcEY,Y,.

Heatherlands, Tilford, Farnham,
SURREY,

CHAMPION STRAIN OF PLYMOUTH ROCKS.

Birds of this famous established medium
colour Strain have been wonderfully success-
ful in all parts of the world; also 1st, 2nd
and 3rd Prizes at the Crystal Palace, 1887;
ist & Cup, 1888; Two 1sts & Two Cups,
1889; Silver Medal, 2nd and 3rd, 1890.

BIRDS OF ALL AGES FOR DISPOSAL.

 

 

 

 

 

Our Works are in the Country, close toa Railway in the Midland
Counties, within easy reach of the principal timber ports, and by the aid
of powerful Sawing, Planing, and other Machinery we can defy any Maker
on Earth to compete with us for Lowness of Price and High Quality.

   

—— Floor

Height. Length. Width. Price. ext.

No. 5..For 10 to 14 Fowls.. 5ft. .. 3ff, .. 4ft. .. 15/- .. 3/-
» l.. 4, 12to20 ,, .. 6ft. 4ft. .. 4ft. .. Q1/- .. 4/-
3) Dee gy BOTOBO yy oe OTE. OH a. Afb ae BTfe xe 6/-
» 8.45, 30t040 4, 6hft. 6ft. .. 5ft. .. 80/- .. 8/-
oo Sie yp DOTOSO 4, ac Tite on Sth oy OMe ue Se cx 10/-

 

Testimonial.
D s ‘ Laureston Vicarage, Tavistock, Feb. 5th, 1891.
seit eras Tee ee eee wid the Rabbitry (consisting of 24 hutches), and Cavy House you have
’ eink well wo e money I hay i ho ill hear from me again when
I want anything of the kind.—Yours faithfully. ai a a evr e J. HL W.

are combing er, WALTON’S FOWL HOUSES
re complete with window and slide, nest boxes, perches, ladder, door for attendant, with lock and key,

ventilator, anda thoroughly watertight roof. If they are not as repr
on ene . esented, are returnable. They are
made in sections, to pack flat for travelling, and can be Sut together ae few minutes.

E. C. WALTON, MUSKHAM, NEWARK.

They are always sent on approval.

¥

Most approved Principles,
And are universally received as the best in the
House or Appliance

will be given by return of Post
on receipt of requirements.

WILLIAM

5 — o
E-ILLUSTRATED PRICELISTS: a Sea REE meee

 

market.

Quotations for any kind of

 

 

CALWAY’S HOUSES & APPLIANCES
ARE BUILT ON THE
Advertisements.

The Kanelers Library

099000000000

 

 

 

Andalusian Fowl. By L. C. VERREY, ls.
Leghorn Fowl. By L. C. VERREY, Is.
Plymouth Rock. sys. WALLACE, 1s.

The Old English Game Fowl.

By HERBERT ATKINSON, Is.

Wyandotte Fowl.

By J. PENFOLD FIELD, Is.
Either of the above, post free, ls. 2d.

French Breeds of Poultry.

By L. C. VERREY, ls. 64., post free, 1s. 8d.

Successful Pigeon Culture.

By RICHARD WOODS, 2s., post free 2s. 2d.;
cloth, 3s. post free.

Rational Breeding.
By E, MILLAIS, 2s., post free, 2s, 3d.

The British Canary.

By C. A. HOUSE, post free, 7d., cloth, 1s. 8d.

Poultry Keeping as an Industry

for Farmers and Cottagers.
By EDWARD BROWN, F.L.S., 6s., post free.

The FANCIERS’ GAZETTE, Ltd,,

54 to 57, Imperial Buildings,

LUDGATE CIRCUS, LONDON, E.C.

 
Advertisements.

Every Friday. | Established 1874. [One Penny.

The Fanciers Gazette

A Weekly Journal devoted to Dogs, Poultry, Pigeons,
Rabbits, Cats, Cavies, and Cage-Birds.-

Articles by the Leading Authorities ;
Letters and Notes on Current Subjects;
Prompt and Reliable Reports ;

Queries answered by Specialists ;
Illustrations by best Artists.

ONLY PENNY JOURNAL DEALING WITH ALL THE FANCIES.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION

 

 

(Payable in advance). 8s. d.
One Copy, __ per post ids ee Se . 0 43
Six months, do. ... . 8 8
Twelve months, do. ... si ie bn ne wa se OB:
Do., India, do. ... a a oy nis si ... 10 10
Do., other Foreign Countries ... si . 8 8

RATE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS.
Per line (containing on the average six words) ; fee
Shows, and Stud Dogs :—

1 to 3 insertions, per line

4 to 6 : ” ”

Ttol2 _,, -

13 and upwards _,,
Auction Sales, per line ee 5% ti es
Discount allowed on series, prepaid.
Per inch in column (12 lines to the inch) j
Contracts made for series.

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENTS
For Sales, Purchases, or Exchanges, One Penny for every
Three (or part of Three) Words.

No advertisement is received for a less sum than Fourpence. Addresses charged.
Remittances must accompany order.

ao aoooe °
So OW RAG a

 

 

Address Cheques, Post Office Orders, and Communications to—
The “FANCIERS’ GAZETTE,” Limited,
54 to 57, Imperial Buildings,
Ludgate Circus,
London, E.C.
QO PER CENT. SAV HD

BY USING THE

CEREAL MEAL.

POOOOOOOOO OOOO OOO HO OO OOFOOOOOOOOHOHOOTOHEVOHENOHOD

The most Complete and Successful FOOD of the day in rearing

- FOWLS,
PHEASANTS,
TURKEYS
and DUCKS.

Ensures Easy Rearing, Quick Maturity and Vigorous
Stock in all Varieties.

 

  

 

 

 

Invaluable for the Production of FERTILE EGGS.
Stands UNRIVALLED for Completeness and Economy.

 

Specially adapted for Preserving Exhibition Stock in Good Condition.

The result of 14 years of Practical Study in the Manufacture; and attested by all the
leading authorities as the best in the Market.

 

Can be had only through duly appointed Agents or direct from the Manufacturer i

THOS. LAMBERT,
POULTRY & GAME’S FOOD MANUFACTURER,

BOURNE MILLS, HADLOW, KENT.

 

Ask for the CEREAL and see that each Bag is Stamped with above
: Trade Mark.

 

a@

J. HURST, Esq., winner of two Challenge Cups and Cup for best Leghorn at the

- late Palace Show writes :—“I have still the good opinion which I always had of your
Cereal Meal, and which I think is the best Meal in the Market.