GAME FOWLS 113 



Wild Indian Game fowl in most respects a noticeable difference is, 

 however, observed, in their being heavily muffled, and of a larger size. 

 With these exceptions, they appear to be precisely the same fowls. 

 The hen of my imported stock weighed seven pounds when one year 

 old, but the cock, though not^weighed by me, I should judge did not 

 exceed a pound and a half more. 



The plumage of these birds is dark and glossy, and the feathers lay 

 remarkably close to the body, and they, like the Wild Indian Games, 

 appear to be much smaller than is indicated by the actual weight. 

 The head of the male bird is generally ornamented with a comb exactly 

 resembling a ripe strawberry, transversely fixed, though occasionally 

 the comb is "roseate;" some have pea-combs. The wattles are want- 

 ing, but in lieu, between where the wattles appear in other breeds, is to 

 be found a small dew-lap, covered by the muffler. The females have 

 rose-combs and verv small wattles. The neck is long and serpent-like, 

 the eyes are large, and in fact, the whole head is above the ordinary size. 

 The beak is of extraordinary strength, and hooked like that of the 

 Eagle the upper mandible projecting and curving over the lower ; 

 indeed, the beak and cervical contour so remarkably resemble that 

 noble bird, that they are frequently called "The Great Indian Eagle 

 Fowl." They were imported via Calcutta, and were originally a wild 

 fowl from the Himmalaya mountains, in India hence their name 

 "The Wild Indian Mountain Fowl." 



The wings are short, like most of the large Asiatic fowls, and the 

 hackles and general plumage are unusually brilliant. They are semi- 

 fan-tailed, but their plume feathers are shorter than is usual for Game 

 fowls. Their legs are dark and smooth, and the under part of the 

 foot is yellow. The flesh of these birds is white and succulent, and 

 the fibre is much finer than in any other large fowl much like that 

 of the partridge. 



For the table, they are the fowls, by far surpassing every other 

 large breed in the savory quality of their flesh. 



These birds are remarkable for their belligerent and semi-game 

 qualities. The cocks are ferocious in aspect and disposition, and the 

 hens seem to share in their propensities for battle. For power and 

 prowess they are unsurpassed, but they are not what cockers call 

 " fast fighters." Ordinarily, however, they are both very peaceable 

 inhabitants of the barn-yard, but on the introduction of strange fowls 

 to the roost, they are aroused to a fearful pitch of excitement. 



The Wild Indian Mountain fowls are not Game, as some suppose, 

 though at mature age they fight ferociously, but it is for the " spit," 

 and not for the " pit," that these birds are sp eagerly sought ; and it 

 is certain that there is no more desirable Asiatic bird for the poultry 

 yard than these. Extra fine fleshed, good layers, remarkably unique, 

 and surpassingly beautiful. 



Occasionally these most magnificent fowls are variegated in color. 



A. Verloin de Gruy, Esq., of New Orleans, La., T. B. Miner, Esq., 

 of Clinton, N. Y., and Rev. N. S. Smith, of Buffalo, N. Y., who have 

 these birds in perfection, are all very careful breeders, and may be 

 relied upon for the genuine stock in its purity, 



J. C. BENNETT. 



Fort des Moines. Iowa. 



