CHAPTER XIV. 



GAME FOWLS. 



THIS is the celebrated race of fowls, bred from time im- 

 memorial 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 England 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 short in feather, but with a 

 full hackle, 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 decidedly 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 correspondingly broad and full, and 

 stern narrow, the whole body rather resembling in shape 

 a short fir-cone with the point for the stern, which must 

 be carried well above the hocks, not let down between 

 them. Saddle hackles close and short ; tail narrow and 

 rather short in the sickle feathers, which should be gathered 

 together, or a whip-tail as it is called, each one just about 



