THE COMMON FO^VL, 50 



delicately -white, and of tlie finest flavour. 

 The pugnacity of these fowls is very great, 

 rendering it troublesome to rear them, and we 

 have more than once known a whole brood of 

 young game chickens more or less injured, 

 and some killed on the spot, from fighting 

 among themselves. 



Of the bantam breeds, one is game, and 

 resembles the game fowl, excepting in size ; 

 another breed is ' feathered to the very toea, 

 the feathers on the tarsi, or beam of the leg, 

 being long and stiff, and often brushing the 

 ground. 



A bantam breed with clean legs, and of 

 most elegantly spangled plumage, has been 

 brought to perfection by sir John Sebright, 

 The attitude of the cock is singularly bold and 

 proud, the head being often thrown so much 

 back as to meet the tail-feathers, which are 

 simple, like those of a hen, the ordinary sickle- 

 like feathers being abbreviated and broad. 

 This elegant little breed is in great request. 



Such are the principal varieties of the com- 

 mon fowls to be observed in our island. They 

 owe their origin to the breeder's skill, and, to 

 be kept up in perfection, requires care, and 

 judgment. 



