QUALITIES OF INDIAN GAME. 



341 



crosses, as we have already seen, are not 

 always the best for all circumstances ; but when 

 an adequate price can be realised to repay for 

 proper age and growth, make the very finest of 

 table fowls. When crossed with the Dorking 

 the produce is very often white both in flesh 

 and skin, and not seldom in shank also ; but 

 this point is found to differ curiously in dificrent 

 strains, or rather perhaps in birds reared upon 

 difi'erent soil, to which the Indian Game appears 

 unusually susceptible. Both colour of leg and 

 richness and lustre of plumage have appeared 

 to us, as the result of many observations, 

 closely connected with run upon rich pastures, 



Under Throat. Back of Thigh. 



Fig. no.— Lacing of Indian Game Hen. 



such as those of Devon ; and we have noticed 

 repeatedly that when stock has been trans- 

 planted to drier soil and more scanty herbage, 

 it was extremely difficult, if not impossible, to 

 keep up that richness of appearance which gave 

 no trouble at all on the rich grass of the West. 

 In the United States this fowl is even more valu- 

 able for the table than in England, the yellow 

 colour being there in special demand, and need- 

 ing no tempering at all. The birds have hither- 

 to been too valuable to be very much used as 

 broiler chickens ; but it has been found that the 

 required 2 lbs. is often made by cockerels at 

 seven weeks old, and this with more breast and 

 wing in proportion than any other breed known 

 there. Even in England, it is chiefly the ex- 

 cellence of Indian Game and its crosses that 

 has_ so greatly broken down the former pre- 

 judice against yellow-skinned birds, which we 

 are glad to learn is to a large extent lessening- 



in the London markets. The size and weight 

 differ enormously according to the manage- 

 ment and feeding. Like the Malay and Aseel, 

 it always weighs much more than it appears to 

 do, but giants are not desired for the show pen. 

 On an average, we should say that the standard 

 weights of 8 lbs. for an adult cock and 6 lbs. 

 for a hen were generally exceeded by about a 

 pound each in practice ; but these exhibition 

 birds are usually brought up quite hardy, with 

 but little feeding. When fed up we have actually 

 known a cock to reach \2\ lbs., which must be 

 nearly the extreme ; but we are bound to say 

 that such great size does not seem to suit the 

 general appearance of the fowl. 

 As a layer the Indian Game 

 does not stand in the very first 

 class, or in the same rank as 

 those specially known as " lay- 

 ing breeds," but it is by no 

 means a bad layer, comparing 

 rather with breeds like the 

 Dorking or ordinary fine farm- 

 yard poultry. Averaging vari- 

 ous reports we have had, many 

 strains are probably good for 

 100 to 120 eggs per annum. 

 The eggs are from pale to dark 

 brown, and particularly sound 

 and smooth in shell as a rule, 

 rather short or roundish, and 

 of very rich flavour, at least 

 upon the Cornish or Devon- 

 shire pastures. Pullets hatched 

 at proper seasons are good 

 winter layers. 



The following notes upon 

 Indian Game are kindly sup- 

 plied by Mr. William Brent, of Clampit, Call- 

 ington, well known as a judge, and as one of 

 the oldest and most successful breeders : 



"This breed, which has become a very 

 popular variety during the last two decades, and 

 now has admirers in almost every part of the 

 globe, was scarcely known outside 

 of Cornwall and the fringe of 

 Devonshire across the Tamar until 

 somewhere about thirty years ago, 

 but has been a leading variety in 

 the Callington district for certainly more than 

 half a century. The fowls were originally 

 imported from India, and although the size 

 of the breed has been increased, and the colour 

 and markings have become more defined, they 

 still retain in the main their original character- 

 istics. In the earlier times the cocks were 

 used in the 'pit,' and often 'won their spurs," 

 but although somewhat pugnacious still, they 



Mr. W. Brent 



on 

 Indian Game. 



