THE PEOPLE'S PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK. 53 



shoulders, toes lengthy, body erect and straight, strong on thigh, quick in 

 motion, and willing to die for his flock rather than yield to an opponent. 

 Game hens possess the same general qualifications. They should be excellent 

 layers and sitters, and for rearing chicks they are considered superior ; they 

 are hardy, strong, and transmit these peculiar traits, as a general thing, to 

 their offspring. 



The flesh of the Game fowl is fine and sweet, and is esteemed of a de- 

 cidedly rich flavor. In this breed almost all shades of feathers are allowable, 

 black-reds perhaps being most common, although jet blacks, pure whites, 

 grays, ginger-reds, spangles, or pied, and various blendings of colors called 

 piles, have their respective admirers, as the fancy of the breeder dictates. 

 The breeds also are numerous ; those of English, Irish, Mexican, Spanish, 

 Cuban, Malay and other nationalities claiming equal attention with fanciers 

 in their respective localities. 



OF BI^ACKXRED 



EARL DERBY GAME. This is an old breed, one which has been given the 

 preference for years, and from which the black-breasted reds undoubtedly 

 originated. The best information that we can gather relative to this breed 

 is that they were originally imported from Knowlsley, Eng., where they have 

 been bred with great care for upwards of one hundred years, in all their 

 purity. The cock is of good round shape, well put together ; the head being 

 long, with daw-eyes, long and strong neck ; hackle well feathered, touching 



