BRJiEDmc Black- BREASTED Red Game. 285 



we will call it No. i. The partridge-marking ought on no account to run into any distinct 

 paicilling, though it is sometimes described as such. It is a very small, wavy, irregular 

 marking, just like that on the back of a partridge, and is shown in the engraving of feathers 

 annexed, from a really pure-feathered Black-red hen (Fig. 69). We do often see real pencilling, 

 and I know it is difficult to breed birds without ; but such marking is the greatest curse of a yard, 

 and so often a sign of a Duck-wing or Pile cross that it ought to be more discouraged than it is. 

 The true and proper marking is as figured here, just like a partridge, and should be so described. 



"The second colour of hen for breeding purposes is: — Hackle golden-yellow, streaked with 

 black ; body — at least back and saddle — partridge-colour of a Weedon or slight creamy tinge, but 

 still partridge ; the wings slightly ruddy ; breast a red salmon, running off to ashy colour on the 

 thighs. This hen is of lighter shade, in fact, all over the body, a softer or yellow colour pervading ; 

 but the partridge-marking just the same in character as the No. i. 



" The third colour for breeding is : — Head and hackle light gold, only slightly streaked with 

 black ; back and wings a quite light partridge, with a more even shade of gold all over, but not of 

 the Weedon colour ; breast a yellowish ash-colour ; tail black. 



" Either of these colours having the style and symmetry named can be bred from, and with 

 success ; but I don't say the first cross. The way I should start would be to put No. i cock 

 with a clear partridge-coloured (or No. i) hen, clear in the wing, and wilh no pencilling whatever 

 on the flights of the wing ; having a deep salmon-coloured breast, with rich golden hackle, with 

 a deep streak of black in each feather. By thus mating you would get rare pullets, and sometimes 

 a first-rate cockerel. 



" Then again, put No. i cock to a rich partridge-backed hen, with ruddy wing, and rich golden 

 hackle streaked with rich black, and a ruddy-ashy breast, described above as No. 2. Thence you 

 get your bright-red, showy cockerels ; but seldom a good pullet, not being dark enough. 



" From No. 2 cock, being more a self-colour, and not that blending of different reds that is so 

 pleasing in No. I, you will get your rich partridge-coloured hens, with deep rich salmon breasts, 

 and pretty free from pencilling, if mated with good partridge hens. Putting this cock to a red 

 partridge (or No. 3) hen, inclined to 'wheaten' or 'Weedon' colour, you sometimes get a really 

 beautiful bright red cockerel. 



" With regard to the No. 3 cock, the only thing I have seen his colour get good has been 

 pullets from the clear partridge (or No. i) hens ; the cockerels in general are loose-feathered, and 

 too dark. 



"There is also what is terpied the Weedon or Wheaten-rcd hen — that is, a hen with buff 

 breast; back slightly partridge, marked with bufify-red ; hackle buff, striped with black; and tail 

 black, inclined to be tinged with buff The name was given, as many think, merely because that 

 colour of Game hens predominated in the neighbourhood of Weedon ; others say it is called from 

 the skin of the red wheat. These hens are most valuable to a breeder for getting him a really 

 pure bright-red cock, for which you put to them a cock of the No. 2 colour ; but this has to be 

 carefully done, and the notion about the Weedon hen being the best to breed cocks from has 

 been harped rather too much upon. It is very well to use one cross, either with the bright-red, 

 or No. 2 cock ; but if you cross with the Weedon the second time you will get a blotchy breast 

 and rusty fluff, the blood being too light to have too much of These hens are also useful for 

 breeding Piles and Duck-wings, as mentioned farther on ; but the second cross, from hens bred 

 from the Wheaten hen, has a certain softness of feather not desirable ; therefore, all Black-red 

 hens bred from this cross ought to be cooked. It is from the second cross the softness comes, the 

 Wheaten hen herself being hard- feathered, and generally throwing veiy sound-feathered cockerels. 



