Modern British Game. 
233 
long-bodied, and is a great fault. I have given my readers an idea of what a Modern British Game Cock 
should be to be eligible for the Show pen ; but they must not run away with the idea that they are going to 
produce a bird ideally perfect in style, shape, and colour without giving the attention and observation to the 
breeding of the chickens, and mating the stock birds, so as to eradicate the faults, and if they can produce a 
bird, or birds, that can score 75 points out of the 100 in judging by points, they will go close towards winning 
the best prizes at the leading Shows. A bird such as I have described, no matter what his colour, whether 
Black-Red, Brown-Red, Red-Pile, Duckwing, Birchen, Black, or White, is the correct stamp of a high-class 
Modern British Game Cock. 
" The Modern Game Hen should have a nice long head, with small, straight, and evenly serrated comb 
(not, as often seen, hanging over like a Leghorn's), long and reachy in neck, with nice short wings, carried 
well from shoulder to tail, the wing-butts standing out prominently. The wings not carried across the back 
(and it may be noted that when a bird carries the wings in this fashion it is nearly always accompanied by a 
high side or deformity (this latter, in most cases, always being present if the bird is wry-tailed), the tail neat, 
the feathers carried closely together, having an appearance of neatness. Some hens I have seen that 
carried their tail so close as to appear as if it was composed of one feather, thighs and shanks well rounded, 
feet well spread, the hind toes carried well back behind the foot. She should be long in the limb, without 
being stilty, and the line from between her thighs should be acute to the vent. Her body should be short 
but not dumpy, neither long nor extra short, but in unison with length of limb and reach. She should carry 
her tail well out from the body, not erect or over the back, and one quality in breeding cockerels should not 
be overlooked in the hen — s/ie should have plenty of bone. Without this the chickens bred from her are 
absolutely certain to suffer from leg weakness. The foregoing is my idea of what a Modern British Game 
Hen should be, no matter what her colour. Further on in this Chapter I will deal with the various colours, 
but, in order to show the difference in the present Standard for British Game in the Colonies to what it was 
fifteen years back, compare what I have stated with the following old Standard of British Game Cock : Short 
head, broad between the eyes, neck hackle long and flowing, eye any shade of colour, thigh and shanks 
short, tail more like a Dorking than a Game Fowl, sickles broad and long, and abundant ; virtually a bird 
lacking shape or make to recommend it. The Hen same character of head and eyes, tail well spread open, 
body thick, short in leg, the fowl being dumpy-looking and low-set. There is really no comparison between 
the highly-bred aristocratic appearance of the Modern Yo\s\ and the old-fashioned and obsolete type of 
former years. 
" It is said by some Fanciers and others that the Modern Game Fowl lacks the pluck and stamina 
which the old style of fowl possessed in such marked degree, but my experience is that the modern 
production is equally as good in these respects ; and, to convince sceptics that the present class of fowl 
possesses these qualifications, I have a few birds now in my yard which will not only attack their own kind 
and fight to the death, but will, if irritated or aroused, tackle mankind. An instance occurred quite recently 
in which a Pile cock of my own breeding was in a pen in company with a hen, which my partner, Mr. Miller, 
wished to change to another pen, and for this purpose entered the pen, with the result that a battle royal 
ensued between the Pile cock and Mr. Miller, with the result that the bird fought so desperately that he 
succumbed shortly afterwards. This is only one instance. 1 could name many in which I have figured as 
one of the combatants, and not always as conqueror. My experience is that the Modern Game is in no way 
inferior in pluck and fighting capabilities to the old class of fowl bred specially for the purpose. 
" Game Fowls, like all Poultry, suffer from diseases ; but the worst of these, and which is dreaded by all 
Game Fanciers, is the roup. This, in the first instance, undoubtedly arises from a cold, which, if neglected, 
develops into true roup. There are many remedies given as absolute specifics, but I have found that a 
preparation given one bird and a cure effected will not have the slightest effect on the disease if given 
another. In the early stage of roup I have found Mr. M'Dougall's Fluid Carbolate a sovereign remedy. 
My method is to squeeze the mucous out of the nostrils, washing the head with the fluid and cleaning out 
the roof of the upper mandible, and in cases where the throat is attacked it is best to moj) the throat with 
