THE GAME FOWL. 235 



But all this is nothing to us. We are looking after ornamental, 

 and, incidentally, useful qualities. The red birds, so called, 

 are mostly splendid and dashing in their appearance ; the yel- 

 low-legged tribe are very gaudy, bright, and strongly con- 

 trasted, though apt to be a little under-sized; the duck-winged 

 grays, so called from their iridescent wing-coverts, which re- 

 mind one of the speculum in a Duck's wing, are most harmo- 

 niously coloured, softly, yet brilliantly tinted, and only not 

 sufficiently rare to be admired with enthusiasm. 



As before observed, it is not our present task to enter into 

 the minute and technical distinctions of Game Fowls. An in- 

 dustrious examination of them, with good opportunities, might 

 lead to very interesting conclusions. Meanwhile, we will 

 print one valuable and original record, as a commencement. 



" There are evidently two varieties of the Game Fowl, if 

 not more. (Assuredly.) The first, occasionally seen in the 

 yard of the farmer, is a bird over the average size, and rather 

 heavily formed; rather too much comb; breast quite black; 

 neck, back, and wings of a very deep red ; tail, glossy green. 

 The Hen plain brown, with a lighter-coloured neck, sometimes 

 a little streaked with ochre ; legs light-coloured or white. 



" The other variety, which I much prefer, and now possess, 

 is a smaller Fowl, of a peculiarly light and elegant make ; head 

 very small and fine; neck, light orange-red; breast richly 

 spotted, as are, also, in a degree, the wings ; back, very rich 

 red ; tail, glossy greenish black ; legs, dark. Hens, brown of 

 various shades, the feathers being streaked with pale ochre 

 down the middle, the same as Pheasants ; comb, in the Cocks 

 very small, and not large in the Hens. 



" These are most high-spirited birds, and will soon gain the 

 ascendancy of any yard. The eggs are slightly tinged with 

 yellow-buff, rather small, and long in shape. Hens, good layers 

 and sitters. Chicks, when first hatched, exceedingly pretty, 

 beifcg marked with a deep brown streak on the head and neck, 



