116 GAME FOWLS. 



the sinewy leg, erect tail, and rapid motion. The importer, in a letter 

 to me of November 9th, says: "I forward yon, by express, the white 

 Games imported from China, via San Francisco. I send all I have, 

 and you will be sole possessor of this importation. They are the only 

 pure white fowls I have ever seen, and they are good and TRUE TO THE 

 DEATH, and you can rely upon them confidently. I was loth to part 

 with these beautiful whites, but when I make a promise, I always 

 stick to it." All of these fowls have yellow beaks, and a part of them 

 have yellow legs, and a part yellowish green legs. The head, comb, 

 and wattles are all smaller than those of any other Game fowl. They 

 form a beautiful contrast with the Sumatra Games the one an alabas- 

 ter, or snow white, the other a blue black, with green metalic lustre. 



As gladiatorial fowls, these whites are as fine a breed as were ever 

 viewed from the plaza de gallos. A celebrated English writer says of 

 them, (see Dixon, 334,) "The white Game fowls are, in the opinion of 

 some, the most chaste and beautiful variety of all, and are highly 

 prized by thope who keep them." 



In a letter of Dr. B. F. Griggs, of Columbus, Ga., dated Sept. llth, 

 1850, to me, these fowls are described as follows: 



"My favorite cock is, perhaps, as fine a Game as lives. He was 

 presented to me by destine Pryor, Esq., of this city, (Columbus, Ga.,) 

 and is of the White Chinese Game stock, imported by Bradford 

 Thompson, the most successful cock-fighter ever known in the United 

 States. His stock has been kept entirely pure and uncontaminated. 

 These fowls are very fine, and are the ' fastest ' fighters known. This 

 one of mine is the most beautiful bird I ever saw. He is pure white, 

 with yellow legs and bill ; eyes perfectly red. He is proud, majestic, 

 and eager for the fight. I propose to take the "Wild Indian Game hen 

 on the terms you propose one hundred and twenty dollars and 

 shall breed her with this cock. If you are willing to do this, I shall 

 want the hen to start for Columbus, next month, by way of Macon, to 

 the care of my friend, Geo. A. Smith, of that city. 



Respectfully, B. F. GEIGGS." 



To the above extract, Dr. Griggs appends the following : 



"COLUMBUS, Sept.' 11, 1850. 



"Da. BENNETT Sir: Being requested by our friend Griggs to state 

 to you what we may know of the above described Game cock, we 

 take pleasure in recommending him as being one of the very finest 

 Game fowls we have ever seen, and think there cannot be a fsaer or a 

 better one. We are well acquainted with him, having seen him 

 victorious in two battles, against very fine cocks ; in one of these 

 battles he killed one of our finest Southern cocks ; in the other, he 

 killed a fine Baltimore cock, over his weight. He is a beautiful bird, 

 weighing five pounds, and we think able to whip any other of that 

 weight to be produced. 



" Respectfully, " PHILIP PRYOE, Columbus, 



"JAMES REEVES, " 

 " W. B. WHITHUST, Alabama." 



The Albin cock here portrayed was presented to me by my esteemed 

 friend, George A. Smith, of Macon, Ga., and the hen is one of four 



