JUDGING GAAfE. 



373 



same conclusion is suggested by phenomena 

 familiar at times to almost every poultry-keeper 

 with small runs, who will have seen a cock 

 standing while the hens pecked his comb into 

 a miserable state, with apparently entire uncon- 

 cern. Dubbing was not adopted to avoid injury 

 to the comb, but to leave no hold ; because a 

 Game cock strikes with his spur close to where 

 he holds by his . beak, and thus the face 

 might be terribly cut, or the eyes torn out, 

 if the comb was left on. We fear there 

 is a large class of people whose notions of 

 cruelty or humanity depend not so much upon 

 real pain or suffering — a matter always to be 

 taken into grave consideration — as upon the 

 presence or absence of visible wound, or of a 

 few drops of blood. At all events, we knew of 

 one lady who used very strong language in- 

 deed about dubbing Game, who regularly sent 

 a male kitten to be " made into a house cat," 

 for the merest reasons of her own personal con- 

 venience ; and that sort of thing furnishes food 

 for reflection. Though we have had some share in 

 the active prevention of animal suffering, we never 

 were able to get up strong feeling about any 

 operation that only takes a minute or two, has 

 no pain of anticipation, and is apparently for- 

 gotten as soon as over ; and we have repeat- 

 edly seen a Game cock begin to feed as soon as 

 tossed down upon the ground. As, however, 

 we believe that some people have been deterred 

 keeping Game Bantams especially, from dreading 

 the supposed cruelty of this operation, it seems 

 worth while to point out that even a dentist's 

 nitrous oxide " gas" will cause anaesthesia quite 

 long enough to dub a bird ; or if that be incon- 

 venient, that a few whiffs of chloroform in a hand- 

 kerchief will equally prevent any pain whatever. 



It is not much use attempting to breed 

 exhibition Game, any more than the Old 

 English, without plenty of room. The cockerels 

 may be kept together until grown, on a good 

 run, under an old cock, as in the case of the 

 older breed ; but there is " Game" in them still, 

 however modified, and as fast as they are 

 dubbed they must be provided for separately. 

 Moreover, space is required to rear the chickens 

 of what is now a rather delicate breed, in health 

 and condition. Finally, without range the birds 

 cannot be shown in the hard feather which is so 

 necessary to success. A few split peas daily for 

 two or three weeks before a show will help this 

 to some extent. 



In judging Game, style and make and con- 

 dition are taken into consideration to a greater 

 extent than in any other breed except the 

 preceding, or in the corresponding breeds of 

 Bantams. Hence, keen as is the competition 



in colour and marking now, it not unfre- 

 quently happens that a bird somewhat in- 

 ferior in these will pull off the honours by great 



superiority in style and character 

 Judging of plumage : for instance, a some- 



Game, what too dark cockerel, or a too 



rich or a slightly foxy pullet, may 

 be so far superior in make or feather as to 

 win over better colour.""' The prize birds, or 

 those likely to be chosen at least, should 

 always be handled, the handling counting 

 for a great deal in Game. Handling is 

 also the only way to detect crooked breasts, 

 which of late have crept into this breed more 

 than formerly, so that occasionally, when the 

 apparently best bird in a class is left out, inquiry 

 will elicit the fact that it was on account of 

 a crooked breast. 



The following is the Standard of Perfection 

 for Game, adopted by the Poultry Club in 

 consultation with the United Game Club: — 



GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 



COCK 



Head. — Shull : Long, fine, and narrow across the 

 eyes. Beak : Long and gracefully curved, and strong 

 at the base. Eyes : Prominent. Comb : Single, 

 small, upright, of fine texture, and evenly serrated 

 at its edge. Face : Smooth. Ear-lobes and Wattles : 

 Fine and small to match the comb as nearly as possible. 

 (Note. — It is customary to exhibit Game cocks 

 after being dubbed, having their comb, ear-lobes, and 

 wattles removed, and leaving the head and lower 

 jaw smooth and free from ridges.) 



Neck. — Long and sUghtly arched, fitted with 

 " wiry " feathers, but thin at the setting on of the 

 body. 



Body. — Short back, \vide front, and tapering 

 to the tail. Back : Flat, and shaped like a smooth- 

 ing iron. Wings : Short, strong, and powerful. 

 Shoulders : Prominent and carried well up. 



Tail. — Short, fine, and closely wliipped together, 

 carried shghtly above the level of the body, with 

 the sickles fine and well pointed, and only sUghtly 

 curved. 



Legs and Feet. — Legs : Thighs strong and mus- 

 cular, shanks long and well rounded. Toes : Four 

 in number, long, fine and straight, the fourth or 

 hind toe carried straight out and flat on the ground, 

 not downwards against the ball of the foot, which, 

 known as " duck-footed," is most objectionable. 



Carriage. — Upstanding and active. 



Weight.— 7 lb. to 9 lb. 



Plumage. — Short and hard. 



HEN 



The general characteristics of the hen are similar 

 to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual 

 differences. 



Weight.— 5 lb. to 7 lb. 



COLOUR 



THE BIRCHEN 



Beak : Dark horn. Eyes : Black. Comb, Face. 



