102 GAME FOWLS. 



he then appeared to fight better, and with more determination than 

 before. He now received a cut in his left wing, entering the first 

 ioint, and ranging up towards the butt, cutting the large artery, I 

 presume, fro-m the quantity of blood that flowed. The next cut was 

 in the back part of the head, ranging down. He received several 

 other cuts in the neck, but not very deep. He was now blind in the 

 right eye, lame in one hip, and the blood dripping from him. His 

 left eye was half closed, and he could scarcely see his opponent, but 

 was eager to get at him. The Georgia cock now began to tire, but 

 kept fighting. The Sumatra finally got to him, and gave him a despe- 

 rate blow, cutting him in the breast The gaff did not hang, and ho 

 was knocked three feet. He was brought to the pit again, and the 

 Sumatra cut, him through the right eye and into the head, which closed 

 the battle. The cock died in a short time. The Sumatra was com- 

 pletely cut up, and I never before saw a cock stand one-half the cut- 

 ting and fatigue that he did. 



It appears that the Sumatra Pheasant hens are as pugnacious 

 as the cocks. Mr. J. A. C. Butters, the original importer of 

 this breed, in speaking of one of them sold to Dr. Bennett, 

 says : 



" I would fight her with gaffs against any hen in the world of her 

 own weight. She never, to my knowledge, was whipped but once, and 

 then by her mother. On one occasion, she fought her way through a 

 flock of thirty Cochins and Shanghaes, whipping both cocks and 

 hens," 



The following extracts from the most distinguished fowl fan- 

 ciers in this country, will give further proofs of the estimation 

 in which they are held : 



PROVIDENCE, Oct. 8th, 1852. 



Friend Bennett, The Sumatra Games came safe to hand, and I am 

 compelled to say, that I never saw such beautiful and ornamental 

 Game fowls, and I think I hafte seen nearly all varieties. That splen- 

 did, rich, dark, green bronze color, I never saw on any fowl before. 

 No amateur ought to be without those truly splendid and ornamental 

 birds. For my taste, they cast all other Games, for beauty of plumage, 

 far in the shade. If you can spare me another pullet I shall be pleased. 

 Yours truly, JOHX GILES. 



These, I think, are among the best of all the Games, for fighting 

 purposes. They have strength, activity, fleetness, perseverance, and 

 endurance ; are also desperate, as no cutting from a gaff will make 

 them flinch. They are kind to human species, but the death to 

 all fowl kind. Cocks, hens and chicks, all fight. I think them the 

 handsomest of all the fowl kind. They have a wild look, brilliant 

 plumage, and the neatest build imaginable. The hens are blue, with 

 bills and legs the same color as the cocks. Are an excellent fowl for 

 the table, their flesh being delicately white. Their laying qualities 

 are good, and their sitting and nursing, faultless. Their egg?, though 

 Binall, are a$ heavy as those of the larger kinds of hens. The shell is 



