GAME FOWLS. While it is a fact that the Game Fowl is the most elegant and intelligent of the gallinaceous tribe of barnyard fowls, it is as true that they are not generally liked by farmers, on account of their pugnacious dispositions. In fact they can not be kept with other breeds, since they at once master and drive every other male bird away. Hence they must be kept separ ate, this rule will follow with all pure breeds. If to be bred pure, breeds must be kept separate. With game fowls however, males of other breeds will seldom mix with game hens, since the male bird of games never allows an approach of others to his flock. In the United States the same care in breeding games is not generally followed as in England. Since public opinion and law is so strongly against cock fighting that it must be practiced in secret. Yet among those who do breed them pure, as much care and intelligence is bestowed as in England itself. The eggs and flesh of Game fowls are among the most delicate food of any of the gallinaceous tribe, and many fanciers keep them solely for the sake of the flesh and eggs. Their size is medium, the weight of mature birds varying front four to six pounds. The varieties are numerous, and there are many sub-varieties, often having but a local celebrity. So the English, Irish, Malay, Cuban, Mexican, Spanish, all claim special celebrity, while in the South, the Georgian are held to be the most supe rior, in point of plumage, shape, carriage, hardi ness and courage, as they are generally admitted to be superior in the quality of the eggs and flesh. Among fanciers for the pit, the Derby and Duck-wing games are regarded, as among the best of the games. The cut given above shows the Black-hreasted Red Game cock and hen. The cocks of this breed, must have the feathers of the head dark red, inclining to orange; the hackle clear orange-red to the very point of the feathers; the back, shoulder and shoulder coverts rich violet-red, the saddle orange-red, and the breast and tail a rich black, perfectly free from white. Red eyes denote pure blood. Lewis
describes them as follows: The cock's hackle is striped underneath, hut never ahove; the comb and wattles bright red ; the wings are of the same color in the upper part, and rich red chestnut in the lower, with steel blue har across; breast bluish black, with glossy reflections; thighs the same; tail greenish black, without much down at the roots of the feathers; legs are usually yellow in color. The hen should be of a rich partridge-brown, with red fawn-colored breast ; reddish golden hackle with dark stripes. The Duck-wing Game, as illustrated, is another of the breeds of thc first class. There are yellow or birchen Duck-wings, but the pure Duck-wings are considered to be the same as the Silver Grays, the blood being acknowledged purer, and it is claimed that they are finer, hardier, and better fighters than the others. Their character is given hy Tegetmeier as follows: The cocks, to be correct in color, should have the hackle nearly clear white, with a very slight tinge of straw color, without any decided yellow tinge or dark streak on the feather. The saddle should be as nearly as possible the color of the hackle; the breast a maroon straw; the shoulder coverts a rich brass or copper maroon; the breast and tail pure black. The hens to match these cocks should have their necks of a clear silver, striped with black, the silver to go right up to the comb, but being a little darker above the eyes; the back and shoulder coverts a bluish-gray shaft of feather scarcely showing any difference from the rest of the feather, any approach to red or pencilling being decidedly objectionable; the breast salmon color, of a nice, rich shade. Salmon Pile Games and Dominique Games, comprise the principal addi tional irarieties of Game Fowls, except those pre viously 'Mentioned.