262 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
Oame cock should be used with hens of the different varieties. Crossed with Dorking hens produces the 
finest quality of flesh, but not of such rapid growth and ultimate size as either the Langshan or Brahma 
cross. In any case, the sexes should be separated at about three or four months old, as they will then grow 
quicker, and the flesh will be considerably improved in flavour. 
There is very little trouble in preparing them for Exhibition. If the face, legs, and feet are well washed 
with soap and warm water, and the bird well smoothed down from head to tail with a silk handkerchief, very 
little else is needed if they are in good health and condition ; and, being of such wonderfully sound 
constitution, they stand an amount of showing that would upset many other breeds. They should, however, 
he accustomed to the Show pen, and trained a little to make them show themselves off to advantage. 
To Mr. Harold Cadell, of " Wotonga," Beecroft, N.S.W., we are indebted for the following notes on 
the breed. Mr. Cadell states : — 
" I find ' Indian Game ' wonderfully hardy as chicks ; grow fast, and seem to be equally indifferent to 
heat or cold. Chickens hatched in June and July were out and about, no matter how frosty, and thrive 
splendidly. This season some chickens hatched in November and December have come on 
wonderfully, so the Indian Game can be considered as suitable to any part of Australasia. As layers the 
hens are a trifle better than British Game (but no one who breeds Poultry for eggs alone should keep any 
variety of Game), laying a brown egg of various shades of colour, of good size, and with a good strong shell. 
I find them vary greatly as layers — some good, others failing in this quality, while some are easily broken off 
from broodiness ; others are more obstinate than the proverbial pig. As sitters they are gentle and quiet, 
but two hens are better not set in the same hou.se. As mothers I find them excellent, great foragers, taking 
great care of their chickens, with which they remain a long time, a point in their favour for early broods. 
The cockerels do not quarrel if run together, and although, without doubt, Indian Game can fight, and 7t77/ 
' stand steel,' they are not nearly as pugnacious as other (iame Fowls. Their superiority over all other kinds 
of Ciame for crossing is well known, and this position has been gained because they are the only Game Fowl 
in which extreme length of thigh and shank is not a point of excellence. I fear, from the trend of Judges 
and so-called Judges, who say an Indian Game hen must be dnitble laced, at the same time ignoring size, 
shape, and type — the three cardinal points of an Indian Game — that we shall see Indians bred alone for 
feather, and their chief characteristics spoilt. Certainly double lacing is handsome, but I much prefer a 
'blocky' single-laced hen to a weedy, fine-headed, light-boned one, no matter how well laced. An even 
ground colour is another, and, to my mind, more important point than double lacing. We must have a warm 
chestnut ground colour, a ' clayey ' ground colour being very objectionable. 
" In cocks heavy, highly-carried tails are a fault to be guarded against. The correct tail carriage is 
' slightly drooping.' This is a point many Australian winners fail in. They don't want a Malay tail in 
scantiness, but a medium-sized tail with plenty of narimv sickle feathers, fairly well curved. To my eye a 
high tail is a great blemish. In both sexes our Australian-bred birds have plenty length of leg — rather much 
so. Mind, I do not advocate a squat fowl, but certainly a fowl low on the leg, with broad shoulders and 
broad breast - a fellow that looks rather small until handled, then feels like lead. Another point often over- 
looked in them is the feet, especially the hind toes. Many birds I have noticed among the winners have 
been duck-footed. Twisted hackles are a blemish, but one seldom sees a cock that is not more or less so : 
and if his hackle is of a good lustrous greenish-black, with the crimson shaft well defined (a solid-coloured 
liackle being very objectionable), we must be thankful for small mercies. In both sexes the iridescent sheen 
has to be seen to be appreciated. No fowl has such a wealth of colour in the feathers as an Indian Game in 
good health and condition.'" 
For the following additional notes on this variety, we are kindly indebted to Mr. W. H. Goodman, of 
Mitchell Street, Stockton, Newcastle, N.S.W. Mr. Goodman writes : — 
" I have much pleasure in giving you a few notes on Indians. I think I may safely claim to have been 
the first to introduce this very excellent breed into the Australasian Colonies. I imported the first trio in 
November, i88q, These landed in very fair condition, but, unfortunately, the cock died after being three 
