268 THE GAME FOWL. 



He has been running with a dozen or more laying Pullets, 

 The brown Pullet, seven and a half months old, weighs nearly 

 eight pounds ; and the gray, less than seven months old, draws 

 seven pounds and three ounces. 



The Gray Eagle Stag I purchased from Miss Castor, will 

 make a rouser. From his marks, I take him to be an August 

 Chicken, and he weighs already, (December 12th,) over seven 

 pounds. He has not yet manifested the first symptom of vi- 

 rility, if such a term can be applied to feathered bipeds. 



Of some smooth-legged Bantams, he says, " The German- 

 town Pigmies, after which we had so great a race, are doing 

 amazingly well, and are much admired." 



I have just seen the portrait of my Chittagong : it is a beau- 

 tiful picture and a correct likeness, with a slight exception ; 

 but this can be remedied by the engraver. His head and head- 

 gear are a trifle too large, but not much. His comb, and wat- 

 tles are really enormous, as large as I ever saw them. My 

 friend has grouped the three together, and it will be necessary 

 to give them a whole page, lengthwise. As a work of art, and 

 as excellent likenesses, they are well worthy of a place. Will 

 the pictures, the originals I mean, be of any use to you after 

 the book is published ? If not, I would like exceedingly well to 

 have those we send, returned. I would like to hand them down to 

 posterity, that my grandchildren might know what fine Chick- 

 ens their grandpappy raised. I think I fore-Jiear some one, a 

 little older than the rest, bragging that granddad once helped 

 a great wise Doctor write a book about Chickens and such-like, 

 and then what a power of family pride there will be ! A Hen 

 couchant and a Rooster rampant will be the insignia of the 

 House of Taggart. All hail to the illustrious successors of 

 Columella and Aldrovandi ! the peers and compeers of 



