3o6 The Illustrated Book of Poultry^ 



the Game fowl is to be bred henceforth for the exhibition pen instead of for the pit — then, by the 

 inexorable laws of Nature, it is absolutely inevitable that, slowly and imperceptibly, some change 

 should be effected, and that considerations of grace and beauty will by degrees modify merely 

 gladiatorial qualities. This is what is being done, and except when we see a Malay cross, we 

 confess our own approval goes strongly in favour of the modern style of bird. 



A word may be said, in conclusion, as to the number of hens allowed by Mr. Douglas to one 

 cock. It is quite certain that amongst the old cock-fighters it was an accepted rule not to place 

 more than three or four hens with one cock, and they always considered that, for titeir special 

 purposes, a greater number led to deterioration ; and in those days such anxious attention was 

 bestowed on every detail, that some may be slow to accept so total a reversal of all their ideas. 

 Much must depend upon the birds, and much upon the range ; for it is a well-proved fact that with 

 unlimited range double the number of hens may be allowed, with even more vigour than the 

 smaller number in a close yard. Different stock-birds, also, differ totally in their vigour and 

 disposition ; and we have not the slightest doubt that in many cases the produce has been actually 

 weakened, and hens even rendered entirely barren, by want of sufficient mates for a very lively bird ; 

 while on the other hand our own experience has certainly not taught us to expect much size and 

 vigour, or even fertility, from large fowls (in our case Brahmas) when mated with more than from 

 four to eight hens. Mr. Douglas would not utter such an opinion unadvisedly, however ; and all 

 we can say is, that soil, food, range, individual character, and age of the bird, with other circum- 

 stances, should be carefully weighed, and the result of experience noted in different cases, before 

 the breeder proceeds to form any rule for his own guidance. 



JUDGING GAME. — " In judging Game," says Mr. Douglas, " activity and liveliness are taken 

 into consideration, as well as condition and other points. It is very seldom, however, that first 

 impressions are wrong, unless competition is very close. I know the public often wonder how the 

 birds were judged, and I must say often not without cause; but then it must be remembered that 

 the judges see the birds privately and while quiet, and that many are ' made up,' as I have already 

 observed, just to stand the test of passing the judge on the required day, and after that they are 

 out of form. In Game it is generally needful really to put the ' points' together ; and hens and 

 cocks should be judged by the same scale." 



We may add that in judging Game it is needful to be watchful against evident traces of the 

 Malay cross. Without going into the question of whether such a cross may or may not in certain 

 cases improve a strain, there can be no doubt that if it be employed, it should be entirely " bred 

 out " again before showing, and that no bird showing plain signs of it has any right to take a prize 

 as true Game. That cross-bred birds exist, almost any class at a good show will testify for itself ; 

 but, at the same time, we must say that in our own opinion its prevalence has been greatly 

 exaggerated, especially by those who can admire nothing but the old, fighting, " cart-horse " style 

 of bird. A real Malay cross can generally be detected by the head being too broad, with rather 

 heavy eyebrows, or the neck being too long, or, failing these, by a sort of undefined stiffness or 

 awkwardness of gait, which is as distinct from the elastic tread of the Game as can well be. If a 

 bird shows none of these faults, to assert that he is "half-bred Malay" is mere reckless jealousy. 



The descriptions of the different varieties of Game given in the " Standard of Excellence " are, 

 on the, whole, pretty fairly accurate, but the scale of points is most absurd ; all the points, with one 

 exception, being given exactly equal values. Some decided errors also need pointing out even in 

 the descriptions. The colour of the Black-red cock is described considerably too dark, the head 

 being called rich dark-red, and hackles and saddle rich red — in. fact, just like the inferior colours 



