OLD AND MODERN GAME. 155 



fined The hens are also inferior as layers to most other 

 breeds ; and on these accounts the pure strain is not adapted to 

 general use, though useful in giving weight and good " wings " 

 to other varieties of fowl. 



CHAPTER XVIL 



GAME. 



Tins is the celebrated race of fowls, bred frora time immemorial 

 for the purposes of the cock-pit, and in which courage was so 

 developed by the severe selection of combat, that a breed was 

 finally obtained which did not know how to yield. Happily 

 cock-fighting in Europe is now a thing of the past, except 

 amongst a very few who carry on their cruel sport upon the 

 sly ; but it is very interesting to notice that this cessation of 

 the old purpose for which it was bred has worked gradually 

 a very great change in the shape and formation of the Game 

 fowl 



The modern exhibition race is very different in many 

 respects from the old fighting race. The old fowl was 

 moderately short on the leg, not very long in the neck, not 

 particularly short in feather, and with a rather large fanned 

 and spreading tail, carried tolerably high. All these points 

 have been changed. 



As now bred for exhibition, the head and beak of the cock 

 should be rather long, but strong at the base of the bill ; eyes 

 rather prominent, and the red skin smooth and fine, giving a 

 snaky look to the head. The ears must be red. Neck rather 

 long, with hackles as short as possible, very little spreading on 

 the shoulders, if at all. Back to be flat and wide between 

 shoulders, narrowing regularly to the tail ; and breast corre- 

 spondingly broad and full, and stern narrow, the whole body 

 rather resembling in shape a short fir-cone with the point for 



