Description of Black-breasted Red Game. 283 



style, 'go in' for blood-looking animals, that are fit either to go the pace or stay, besides being all 

 that you want in a show-pen. 



" BLACK-BREASTED RED GAME.— I now give the points I consider a really good 

 Black-red cock ought to have for a stock bird. Beak to be strong, slightly curved, and stout 

 where set in the head. Head rather inclined to be long, and not round and bullet-shaped ; the 

 least possible indent over the eye gives a snake-like appearance which is much admired. Eyes 

 bright red, rather prominent, with a fearless expression. Face a smooth fine skin ; the throat the 

 same. Ears red, not inclined to white. Neck rather long, and a little arched ; short hackle, with 

 the points just meeting between the shoulders, but reaching very little on the back. Back flat, 

 wide at shoulders, and narrowing to the tail. Breast round and full. Stern to be clear between 

 the hocks, not let down, but a clear line. Saddle-feathers close and short, and not too many of 

 them. Wings strong, and not over long, having a great substance at the shoulders ; not confined 

 close at the breast, but to be seen a little detached, as if ready to fly at the first intruder — be he 

 cat, dog, or cock — the points resting over the thighs, but under the saddle. Tail medium length, 

 neither too long nor short, but nicely carried; neither 'squirrel' nor drooping, but between the 

 two ; not much spread out, but nicely ' Venetianed,' with about seven secondaiy sickle-feathers each 

 side, the one nicely fitting just above the other ; of course the two main sickles about four or five 

 inches longer than the straight tail. Thighs round, stout, full of muscle, firm, rather long, but well 

 carried in close to the body — not stilty, but so that you can distinguish their form and where set in 

 when facing you. Shanks medium length, nicely rounded, neither flat nor quite round, with a nice 

 clean joint in setting-on to the thigh-bone, well standing apart, and beautifully scaled. Spurs set 

 low, and inclined to point back. Feet flat ; toes well spread out, and the hind toe to come straight 

 and flat out from the foot ; not, as many do, drooping so as to put just the point to the ground. 

 This latter form is nearly as objectionable as what is termed duck-footed, which is when the hind 

 toe inclines to point forward the same way as the front toes. The toes should be a good length, 

 and well spread out, with good strong nails. The colour of the legs should be willow or olive, to 

 blend well with the colour of this cock. 



" Plumage as follows : — Head and neck-hacklcs orange-red to the points ; back and shoulder- 

 coverts violet red, with a shade of orange ; saddle orange-red ; breast black, with a steel-blue shade 

 all over the breast ; tail rich black, with a slight purple bronze shade in secondary sickles. There are 

 different shades in the Black-reds, but none blends better, or is warmer, and nicer, and pleasanter to 

 the eye, than the above colours, which we will call No. I. I will, however, give the colour of another 

 very successful shade of the Black-reds, which is easier bred, but I must own is not so beautiful, 

 and which we will call No. 2. The cock is more of a red clay-colour in hackle, deep rich red ; 

 back and shoulder-coverts a little violet red ; the saddle similar to hackle ; in fact, too much of 

 a sameness all over to make the colour pleasant, but still they have the symmetry of the more 

 favoured colour ones. There is also another colour of Black-red, but it seldom proves successful 

 unless a poor lot happens to be exhibited. The hackle is red, darkly striped, running off to a 

 light straw ; back claret ; shoulder-coverts red clay-colour ; saddle almost a red straw. These 

 birds, which I will call No. 3, are in general soft to the touch for want of muscle, and far 

 from firm in the hand. These are about all the colours of Black-reds that we meet with at 

 shows nowadays. 



" So far as the cocks in the Black-reds are concerned, I think enough might be gleaned from 

 these remarks to assist a novice, as this is intended for such, as well as a reference to be compared 

 by older hands, in breeding from what they may have. Now I will give the three colours and 



