286 The Illustrated Book: oh Poul'iry. 



"Black-reds being the purest-feathered of the Reds, I have given them the preference in 

 describing them; and by following out my advice I really think any one can breed and be 

 successful in the show-pen." 



Our illustrations are taken from some of the best birds ever seen. The hen was really pure- 

 feathered, being quite free from the objectionable pencilling often seen ; and the cock, besides his 

 own merits, was remarkable as the progenitor of other well-known birds. 



" BROWN-BREASTED RED GAME.— The same description of style and symmetry as 

 the Black-reds will do for all Game, including Brown-breasted Red Game. There are several 

 colours admissible for the show-pen, but I will begin with those at present most fashionable. 

 In the streaky or starling-breasted cock, the head and hackle-feathers are deep orange-red, with 

 a shade of dark in centre of feather ; shoulder-coverts dark crimson ; saddle a red maroon on 

 centre, passing to a dark lemon and straw ; breast dark, with a bay streak in centre of every 

 feather running of on the thighs, which are also streaked with bay ; tail black, sickles narrow and 

 whip-like, and bronzed with a greenish gloss. Some like a dark smutty face, instead of the beautiful 

 red-purple skin. Large brown or black eyes are necessary to this breed. In Brown-reds a little 

 heavier build does not detract from the beauty of the bird, so more la.xity may be taken in this 



Fig. 70. 



colour tlian the Black-red ; but the same rule as to style applies here as to Black-reds. The Brown- 

 reds have a hardness of feather that few strains of the Black-reds possess. I have said that the 

 colour of the face is a matter of taste ; but it is a certain fact that since the dark or gipsy faces 

 predominated we have lost the beautiful bright colours in Brown-reds we used to have. 



"The colour of hen to match the streaky-breasted cock in the Brown-reds is as follows : — Head 

 dusky brown ; comb and face bright purple-red or smutty, according to taste ; eyes black or dark 

 brown ; neck brassy, striped with black ; the legs dark or willow^ ; body-feathers dark brown- 

 er even in a dark hen almost black, with brassy hackle, would answer for the show-pen. 



"This is the most fashionable colour ; let us now see what they will breed. Some will come as 

 near like the parents as possible in cockerels ; others will come black-breasted, and too dark 

 in hackles ; others will be nearly crow-black, with only a dirty dark red on shoulder and back. 

 Some pullets will come a nice colour, but some nearly brown ; and others nearly black, without the 

 brassy hackle, but only a slight tinge of copper in the hackle. In Brown-reds it is very difficult to 

 get above one or two in a brood fit for the show-pen, or even fit to breed from the following 

 season ; in fact, nothing we get in the Game line breeds so true to colour as the Black-red, which is 

 easiest to breed of all the varieties. 



"Another very fashionable colour in Brown-reds, as frequently shown, and by many thought 

 even more beautiful than the starling-breasted, is as follows: — Head and hackle orange-colour 

 throughout, with little no streak in the feathers ; shoulder-coverts a shade lighter crimson than 

 the streaky-breasted birds ; saddle to match the hackle, or dark lemon ; back a maroon straw ; 

 and breast an almost black ground-colour, but every feather beautifully laced with light bay— a 

 mere slight lacing round the edges, not at all running into the feather. The hens to match these 



