232 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
the cockerels arc rarely as hard-feathered as the birds bred from the Black-Red, the pullets generally come 
all right, though occasionally a lemon pullet will be produced, and is of great use for the first plan of 
crossing. 
" Birchen-Grcys are exact duplicates of the Brown-Reds in markings, substituting white where the 
Brown-Reds are lemon or golden. They are a most handsome variety, and breed true to feather if not 
crossed ; but in Australia, not being recognised as a distinct variety, are chiefly used by Brown-Red breeders 
to produce the light shades of colour so desired in Brown-Reds. 
" The Silver, or, more properly speaking, True Duckwings, are a most beautiful breed, the cock's 
hackle, back, wing-bows, shoulder-coverts, saddle hackle, and secondaries being pure white, the rest of the 
body and tail being of the soundest blue-black. The hens are of a paler colour throughout than the (iolden 
Duckwing hen, and arc chiefly used to cross with the Black-Red to produce the Show or Clolden- 
Duckwings. 
" I have not seen a fair specimen of Black Game in the Colonies, and the Whites that have been 
exhibited from time to time were only moderate specimens of the Modern (iame Fowl." 
To Mr. G. C Murdoch, of Gaylemire, B:ilmain, N.S.W., one of the leading breeders and exhibitors of 
Modern British Game, we are indebted for his experiences of the breed. Mr. Murdoch states : — 
" In starting my remarks upon this class of Poultry, which may aptly be termed the ' King of Fowls,' I 
wish the reader to understand that the knowledge gained by myself has not been culled from English works, 
but is solely the experience of having kept and bred them for the last fifteen years. It may be of service to 
those who are beginners to hear my experience, so that they may not make the errors that I did. When I 
started, I relied upon the persons I purchased my stock from to give me what I was paying for ; but I soon 
found that the quality of my purchases did not come up to even the Standard in those day?, either in the 
Show pen themselves, or in the quality of the chickens that they produced. I then began to attend the 
leading Shows, to study the quality and points of winning birds, and after becoming satisfied that I knew 
most of the points of a truly Modern type of Fowl, I cleared my yard, and began afresh ; and here let me 
tell the beginner that to view a plate of Modern Game in a book and the actual living bird itself are two 
totally different things, and the only way to learn how to judge this class of Fowl is by studying the living 
specimen, and in order to become a successful Fancier, you must have sufificient knowledge to tell you which 
of your birds to exhibit. How often you hear it said, • Oh 1 had I known the Judge went for that style, I 
have a bird at home which would have won easily.' This displays a want of knowledge on the exhibitor's 
part, as the Judges keep as close to the Standard as possible. 
" In my opinion, within the last ten years the Modern British (jame Fowl has made rapid strides. The 
class of birds now shown are more of the Modern type, and exhibit all-round marked improvement. The 
original type of bird shown was, in comparison with a present-day specimen, more like a cart-horse than a 
race-horse. The Modern Game Fowl of to-day is a blood-looking, racy gentleman, smart and showy, having 
a long narrow head, long neck, the neck hackle short in feather, and 'pointed between the shoulders, not 
extending down the back, or like a spreading frill, but lying close, giving a neat appearance, saddle hackle 
the same, the body feathers short, the Fowl having a close, hard feeling while held in the hand, nice neat 
tail carried at a slightly elevated angle from the body, the tail feathers not too long, the sickles finishing oflf 
like the fine blade of a penknife, legs well set on, not too far forward, nor yet stilty (which gives the bird an 
appearance of weakness), but well rounded, with nice round shanks, the whole leg showing plenty of strength, 
feet well spread, the hind toe standing well out behind the foot, not pointing forward, as often seen. The 
body should be short (but not so short as to appear dumpy, nor yet long and narrow like a lemonade bottle), 
with plenty of daylight showing from the thighs to the tail ; in other words, showing a sharp, clear line from 
thighs to vent. The wings should be short, and carried closely along the body, not covering the saddle 
hackles, the wing-butts standing out rather prominently from the shoulders, giving the bird the appearance of 
being ready for instant action. Too many birds of the present day, and prize-winners, have a habit of 
carrying the wing-butts too close to the body, giving them the appearance of being narrow-chested and 
