64 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



and three quarters, but is so very compactly built, that good 

 judges frequently estimate her only at about four pounds. This 

 is conclusive evidence of her extraordinary fine quality. 



When this bird was first described by me, I represented her 

 as rather a poor layer, and as an incorrigible sitter. Further 

 experience, however, enables me to state that as a layer she is 

 equal to other fowls of the game variety. She has proved to 

 be remarkable for her tenacity of purpose, and steady persever- 

 ance in whatever she undertakes. When she lays, she lays 

 daily, and seems to devote her energies to this duty ; if disposed 

 to sit, she cannot be diverted from her object. The person 

 who had charge of her last season says that he placed her in a 

 barrel partly filled with water, for two weeks, during the day- 

 time, in order to overcome her desire to incubate, removing her 

 to the roost every evening, and at the end of this term, he was 

 obliged to let her go to her nest. 



This hen shows a plumage of remarkable beauty, being cov- 

 ered with feathers as brilliant as the long tail-feathers of the 

 game cock ; and the variety unquestionably stands at the head 

 of the game race. When pitted with a perfect Spanish game 

 fowl she was easily victorious, and I have seen no other fowl, 

 as yet, that can stand before her in battle. 



The wild fowls of India are generally peaceable with their 

 acquaintances, but never suffer strangers to show fight without 

 whipping them. They are superior to the common game fowl 

 for fighting, when aroused ; and this hen, the morning after I 

 obtained her of Mr. Estes, whipped twenty-seven of my largest 

 fowls, hens and cocks, one after another, without stopping. 



The eggs produced by this hen are remarkable in their 

 appearance. The color is white, tinged with yellow ; and at 

 one end, they are sometimes spotted like a bird's egg. The 

 size is large. 



In the following letter from Mr. Stoddard, will be found 



