62 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap, in- 



form, with plumage so much more bright 

 and showy than the common breeds, that 

 there appears as much difference between 

 the one and the other as there is between a 

 lady's thorough-bred horse and a cob. When 

 in full plumage, he wears an appearance of 

 extraordinary animation : his small head, 

 adorned with a splendid comb and wattles, 

 his eyes sparkling with fire, and his whole 

 aspect bespeaking the daring courage of his 

 nature. 



Even of the game-breed there are, how- 

 ever, many varieties, some of which are 

 more esteemed than others among those feed- 

 ers who rear them for the cock-pit. Sketchly, 

 who has written a treatise on the subject, 

 describes eight of a superior sort, among 

 which he particularly mentions the black- 

 breasted red. " The feather of which," he says, 

 " when true bred, should be of a clear, vivid, 

 dark -red, without any shade whatever of the 

 black, extending from the back to the ex- 

 tremities. The upper convex side of the 

 wing equally red and black ; the whole of 

 the tail-feathers black ; the tip of the wing 

 also, with black beak and black legs. The 



