160 DIFFERENT BREEDS UK POULTRY. 



months old the right age is when these appendages have 

 ceased to grow. Of late an agitation has commenced against 

 the practice, and the Society for Preventing Cruelty to 

 Animals has obtained convictions against it as cruelty. It is 

 not improbable that, as the fowls are bred for generations 

 purely for the show-pen, without any reference to fighting, 

 the necessity for dubbing may gradually die out. But at 

 present, all who actually breed the fowls consider it necessary ; 

 and it is indeed almost impossible to keep them without it, 

 unless every cockerel can be kept separate, which is difficult, 

 owing to their great flying capabilities. If they do meet, as a 

 Game cock is so built that he strikes with his spur wherever 

 he holds with his beak, the result to an undubbed bird is 

 either death or terrible suffering, as has been proved over and 

 over again, even from a very few seconds' encounter ; whereas 

 dubbed ones can generally be separated before much injury u\ 

 done. In these circumstances, hot abuse of the practice by 

 those who know nothing about the matter shows more zeal 

 than discretion. The time may however come, from the 

 reason stated, when dubbing may no longer be necessary. 



The Game fowl is not devoid of solid economic merits. 

 While some varieties are poor layers, others and especially 

 Black-reds often lay remarkably well, though the eggs are 

 rather small. As sitters and mothers, no fowls equal them. 

 They will not stand much interference, except from persons 

 quite familiar ; but neither do they need it, and they will de- 

 fend their broods against any foe. And for fineness of flesh and 

 delicacy of flavour they are unrivalled, while there is far more 

 meat on them than would be thought, owing to the large and 

 broad breast. They will not fatten, being too active in tem- 

 perament ; but if well fed, and eaten just as they are, they 

 resemble a pheasant more than anything else, while they do 

 not require very much food. For these reasons they are often 

 crossed with Dorkings (both ways), and some of the finest quality 



