108 GAME FOWLS. 



sinewy, with a powerful thigh, like the Pheasant Games, and frequently 

 a pea comb, like other well bred Games. In further describing these 

 rare birds, I will introduce some extracts from letters, and other 

 notices. 

 Dr. Eben. Wight writes me as follows : 



"BOSTON, Mass., April 30, 1852. 



"Dear Doct., I have been down to the ship Propontis, Lewis 

 Wharf, and have seen the Sumatra Ebon Game fowls. Captain Bar- 

 stow, brother to the one who wrote you, says he took about fifty 

 cocks on board at starting, and always kept the one that beat, till all 

 are dead except this fellow ; he finished, or nearly finished, all of 

 them, when they were handed over to the cook. He was regularly 

 gaffed for battle. The cock and hen are both quite young. Plumage 

 of the cock, dark-red hackles, and a few dark-red feathers over the 

 back ; body, black, or greenish black ; tail feathers, very long and 

 greea ; legs, dark. The hen is black, and of good plumage, with dark 

 legs. 



" In haste, truly yours, E. WIGHT." 



Mr. Barstow, brother of the Captain, says : 



BOSTON, May 1st, 1852. 



" Dr. Bennett, Dr. Eben Wight will give you a description of the 

 Games, which he can do better than myself. 



"They were imported in the ship Propontis, Captain Barstow, 

 which arrived last week, and were bought at the west coast of Sumatra, 

 by the Captain. 



" There cannot be any doubt as to the breed of the fowls, as they 

 were hatched on the coast, bought there by the present owner, and 

 brought from there in the ship Propontis, from which they were taken 

 this morning, by Wentworth's Express, for you. 



" Yours, <fec., GEO. T. BARSTOW." 



Mr. Balch writes as follows : 



"DEDHAM, Mass., July 6,1852. 



" J. C. BENNETT, M. D. Dear Sir : My present engagements are such 

 that it is impossible for me to give you a detailed account of the Game 

 fowls you purchased of Captain Barstow. I saw them on board the 

 ship Propontis, and offered a large price for them, but was informed 

 that they were under refusal for you ; he, therefore, could not part 

 with them till he should hear from you. 



"From \he history my friend, Captain Barstow, gave me of the 

 birds, I am inclined to think they are the best Games imported for 

 many a day. 



" I rather rejoice that you were the successful purchaser, for they 

 will now be fully distributed. Had I been so fortunate as to have 

 secured them, I should have presented them to a friend at the South, 

 where I am sure they would have out-shone any they have. 



" Yours, truly, B. W. BALCII. 



The Great Falls Journal, of May 6th, in speaking of the Sumatra 

 Ebon Game fowl, observes : 



