66 THE BIRDS 



been bred primarily for feathers, and lastly for meat. At 

 the present time they are chiefly raised for exhibitions. 



Cornish Game. The Cornish fowl is one of the oldest 

 of our domestic birds, and probably existed in prehistoric 

 times. It has all the characteristics of the game bird, long 

 legs, long neck, and small compact body with full breast. 

 There are a number of different varieties, but the black 



FIG. 44. A Cornish Game pair. These birds are much heavier than they look, 

 being very close-feathered and hard-fleshed. (Photos by Oak Hill Poultry Yards.) 



breasted red is the most common. The Cornish Game, 

 owing to its desirable points and its great antiquity, has 

 been much used in crossing with other types to originate 

 new breeds, and its blood probably circulates to a greater or 

 less extent in all of our general utility breeds. The Cornish 

 Game birds have a relatively small body, but are heavy; 

 the compactness of their flesh makes them weigh from two 

 to three pounds more than their appearance would indicate. 



