GAME FOWLS. 109 



" We have this week been shown a pair of these fowls, which were 

 brought direct from the Island of Sumatra, India, in the ship Propontis, 

 Captain Barstow, and were purchased by Dr. J. C. Bennett, at a great 

 price. The plumage of these fowls is elegant, that of the cock being 

 a greenish black, with long, green tail feathers, and a few dark red 

 feathers over the back. The tail feathers of this bird now drag upon 

 the ground when he stands erect, notwithstanding he has undergone 

 the hardships of a seven months' voyage, which is every way calcu- 

 lated to strip him of his plumage. He, according to the testimony of 

 the Captain, actually fought and killed fifty cocks while on his pas- 

 sage from Sumatra to Boston. He was regularly gaffed for the battle, 

 and always cut down his antagonist, though many a victory was 

 hardly contested at the point of the steel. The hen is of good 

 plumage, and has laid from the time of her embarkation at Sumatra, 

 up to the present, with short intervals. These birds are said, by 

 excellent judges, to be the 'FASTEST' Game fowls now known, and 

 evidently STAND AT THE HEAD OF THE GAME RACE as to beauty, strength, 

 power of endurance, prowess, and speed. They never prove craven, 

 or cower at the steel cut of the enemy." 



The editor of the New En'gland Cultivator, in an article in that 

 paper, says: 



"We had an opportunity, a few days since, to examine the fine 

 Game birds of Dr. J. C. Bennett, of Great Falls, N. H., and we were 

 highly pleased with his stock, which is the choicest, probably, in its 

 way, now to be found in the Northern States. 



" Dr. B. is an enthusiastic fancier, and has bred his fowls, experi- 

 mentally and scientifically, for several years. He has appended some 

 names to his birds, for the purpose of distinguishing one importation 

 from another, which we do not fancy altogether ; but that he has 

 some superb specimens of Game fowls, there is no question. 



" His Sumatra Games comprising the 'Pheasant' Game, and the 

 ' Ebon ' Game are among the most graceful and beautiful of all the 

 domestic fowls we ever yet saw, and we do not doubt that they are 

 all that they are represented. He claims that they are ' fast ' fighters, 

 and of sure endurance and bottom. 



"Two old breeders (imported,) that he showed us, were p-- ' " n ~ 

 fine and promise to be a superb variety of dark, rich plum^ e -, / 

 carriage, large armed, and exceedingly e"rect and spirited. 



" Dr. B. has bred the Games very extensively during the last and 

 present season, and our Southern friends who desire such birds for 

 ' pit or spit,' can obtain choice ones on application as above." 



If my friend will inform me how to distinguish one breed from 

 another, (not one importation from another,) without "names" I will 

 be under many obligations. I do not wish to multiply " names" but 

 when new breeds are imported, they must be NAMED, or they cannot 

 be identified with sufficient precision. 



The opinion of such men as Dr. Wight and Mr. Balch, is always 

 entitled to respectful consideration, for though they may occasionally 

 err in judgment, like other men, yet it is admitted on all hands they 

 are able, competent, and most excellent judges. 



