GAME FOWLS. 99 



tice of pitting them, is much less than at the north. The 

 indomitable perseverance and courage of the Sumatra Pheasant 

 Games, is worthy our admiration. They will fight as long as 

 enough of their body hangs together to retain the vital spark, 

 and they yield to nothing but death. Dr. Bennett does not 

 overrate them, as I have much corroborative evidence of their 

 enduring powers and unflinching courage when pitted, and I 

 have had personal experience of their courage, having procured 

 a pair from Dr. Bennett's stock. The cock in my possession 

 has whipped every other rooster I own, and without spurs, 

 being too young to have them grown, if this breed does ever 

 have them, which I think doubtful, from present appear- 

 ances. They are probably pitted with steel gafts, usually. No 

 other fowl can compare with them in beauty of plumage that 

 beautiful green metalic lustre for which they are noted, and 

 with which they are invariably bred by Dr. Bennett. The por- 

 traits here given, are true to life. The following is Dr. Bennett's 

 description of them. Dr. B. was one of the first breeders, and 

 the principle breeder of these Games in this country : 



These fowls are called " Pheasants " by the natives of Sumatra, from 

 their strong resemblance to that bird in the length of their tail, and 

 the manner of carrying it, which is horizontal, or in a line with their 

 body, and not erect, like other Games. The magnificent plume-feathers 

 of the cock's tail frequently sweep the ground, and the tail of the hen 

 is fan-shaped. The cervical contour, likewise, strikingly resembles 

 that of the wild pheasant, and the general aspect of the Sumatra 

 Pheasant Game is symmetrical and unique in the extreme. In this 

 country we adopt the name of "Pheasant" Game, to designate this 

 particular breed, and to distinguish it from another excellent breed of 

 Games, imported from Sumatra by Capt. Silver, and known as "Silver 

 Games," but which are designated "Sumatra Games," in the late 

 report of the New England Poultry Society. These "Sumatra Games " 

 are larger, and carry their tail decidedly more erect man the " Suma- 

 tra Pheasant Games," and the two breeds differ materially in general 

 contour and brilliancy of plumage, though both breeds are GAME to 

 the death. 



The Sumatra Pheasant Games maybe thus described : Head, small, 

 with a powerful beak ; eyes, lustrous, quick, and fiery ; the comb is 

 what is known to cockers as a " pea-comb," from its resemblance to a 

 pea-blossom ; that is, it is a small, serrated comb, studded upon either 

 side by a smaller comb, giving it the app-earance of three combs; but 

 some of this breed have single combs ; wattles, small, with a very 

 small, dew-lap; hackles of the neck and loins, very long and bril- 

 liant ; tail, long and drooping, or horizontal, with abundant plume- 

 feathers, sweeping the ground ; body, slim, and very symmetrical ; 

 legs, sinewy, with a powerful and muscular thigh ; bottom of the feet 

 and skin 01 the body, of a bright yellow ; color of plumage, variable, 



