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activity, good handling properties, keenness, gameness of aspect, 

 cleanness of feet and legs, smartness and purity of feather should 

 be the chief points. The true game cock will not vary from his 

 proper shape if "fanciers" will rest satisfied with the "king of 

 birds," as he is, and which the old breeders bred to such perfection, 

 that modern breeders can never hope to excel, if they ever equal 

 them. The game cock as shown at poultry shows being so altered, 

 as already mentioned, in all his chief and essential points, the 

 game classes began to fall off, and ordinary visitors failed to be 

 attracted by a bird which, to all but the eye accustomed to them, 

 must be considered ungainly and practically useless ; and about 

 1882 I fancy the general publio believed the true game fowl to be a 

 thing of the past, and that he had ceased to exist in this country. 

 Here let me say that it was solely among cook-fighters that he did 

 still exist. Many of these had had the same breed for generations, 

 and would neither sell birds nor eggs. They were not led away by 

 showing, or fashion, or money-making. Their requirements were 

 jmrity of blood, courage, heel, activity, strength and soundness of 

 constitution. About the year 1883 a class for the true or old 

 English game fowls was given at Clayton Moor in Cumberland; 

 then Aspatria followed suit, and Wigton provided classes. In 1887 

 the Old English Game Club was founded, and although this club 

 was given up about two years afterwards, it had nevertheless suc- 

 ceeded in assisting very considerably to bring Old EngUsh game 

 prominently before the public — notably, by the classes at Birming- 

 ham — and the Dairy shows, which have been since continued and 

 are well filled, forming an additional attraction. The Eoyal Agri- 

 cultural Society also gave classes about this time with such 

 success that they are not only continued, but the prizes are now 

 confined exclusively to Old English ; and at the present time all 

 the principal shows provide classes for them. The old-fashioned 

 birds appear to be coming, quite to the front again in the shows, 

 and our earnest hope now is that they will not be transformed, as 

 their noio distant cousins, the modern game, have been. I think 

 this a very necessary warning. Do let us rest satisfied with the 

 game cock as he is and was two centuries ago. Some of the judges 

 already show too much preference for the white-legged breeds, 

 for wheaten hens, for more size, and encourage loose feather. For 

 a common table fowl, and a table fowl only, the white leg is good, 

 but it must be remembered that the game cock is something more 



