108 Game. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



GAME. 



THIS is the kind expressly called the English breed by 

 Buffon and the French writers, and is the noblest and most 

 beautiful of all breeds, combining an admirable figure, 

 brilliant plumage, and stately gait. It is most probably 

 derived from the larger or continental Indian species of the 

 Javanese, or Bankiva Jungle Fowl the Gallus Bankiva of 

 Temminck which is a distinct species, distinguished chiefly 

 from the Javanese fowl by its larger size. (See page 124.) 

 Of this continental species, Sir W. Jardine states that he 

 has seen three or four specimens, all of which came from 

 India proper. The Game cock is the undisputed king of 

 all poultry, and is unsurpassed for courage. The Malay is 

 more cruel and ferocious, but has less real courage. Game 

 fowls are in every respect fighting birds, and, although 

 cock-fighting is now' very properly prohibited by law. 

 Game fowls are always judged mainly in reference to 

 fighting qualities. But their pugnacious disposition renders 

 them very troublesome, especially if they have not ample 

 range, although it does not disqualify them for small runs 

 to the extent generally supposed. A blow with his spur 

 is dangerous, and instances have been recorded of very 

 severe injuries inflicted upon children, even causing death. 

 An old newspaper states that " Mr. Johnson, a farmer in 

 the West Riding of Yorkshire, who has a famous breed of 

 the Game fowl, has had the great misfortune to lose his 

 little son, a boy of three years old, who was attacked by a 

 Game cock, and so severely injured that he died shortly 

 afterwards." High-bred hens are quite as pugnacious as 

 the cocks. The chickens are very quarrelsome, and both 

 cocks and hens fight so furiously, that frequently one-half 

 of a brood is destroyed, and the other half have to be killed. 



