Cornish- Indian Game. 
263 
•weeks in my possession. This loss was all the more severe, as he was undoubtedly a good specimen. The 
trio were from Pomeroy's yard. I exhibited the two hens at the July Show (1890) of the N.S.W. P.P.C. and 
D. Society, and they were the chief attraction. I then sent for two pairs (two cocks and two hens) from 
Paynter's yard. From one of these latter importations and one of the first hens I bred the old ' Veteran,' 
which in my opinion was the best Indian Game cock ever bred in the Australasian Colonies. The breed has 
always been a great favourite with me from boyhood. In those days my father kept an Indian Game cock 
running with common hens to breed young stock for market, and I well remember the fine class of Table Poultry 
my parents took to the market for sale at Christmas time, and, after their return, to hear the high price 
obtained for the birds. The Indian Game are in my eyes the best of all Poultry, their chief value being for 
the table, in which quality they are superlative ; and if our Farmers or those Poultry Breeders who produce 
stock for market purposes were to cross their flocks with a good stamp of the Indian Game, the miserable, 
scrubby-looking specimens of Market Poultry now offered for sale would quickly become a thing of the past. 
The Indian Ciame crossed chickens are wonderfully hardy, quick growers, cost no more to keep than the 
veriest mongrels, and at the same time have a very presentable appearance (invariably tending towards the 
type of the Indian), and when held in the hand feel like a lump of lead, not a mere mass of feathers and 
bones. I am confident that when once the true value of the Indian (iame as the best of all crosses for 
improving to a table model the ordinary run of barnyard or Market Poultry is recognised, no other cross will 
ever be used if stock is bred solely for table requirements. From a Fancier's point of view the Indian hens, 
in the beauty of ground colour and accurate metallic markings (the whole forming the hardest and most 
lustrous plumage found on any variety), offer the greatest attraction, and I know of no other variety that can 
excel them in these particulars. As layers, the hens cannot be classed with the Leghorn or Minorca, but^ if 
kept in fair condition and not allowed to accumulate undesirable fat, they will lay a goodly number of eggs 
during the year. But it is as sitters and mothers that they stand supreme, being excelled by no other variety 
of Poultry. Though the Indians can and will fight to the death, they are of a very tame and confiding 
disposition, and do not look for fight like the other Game varieties. Another trait in their character is that 
no difficulty is experienced in keeping them in confinement, a much smaller space sufficing for their needs 
than would be generally supposed, though at the same time, where free range can be given them, a great 
saving in care and attention is secured. My ideal weight of an Indian cock is from 11 to 14 lbs., hens from 
7 to 9 lbs., and I prefer a dark (almost black) pupil to the eye, and a yellow ring around it. In the lacing of 
the hens I decidedly prefer double lacing if perfect, but at the same time have found it even more difficult 
to breed single laced hens, and these latter invariably run much richer in ground colour. The colour of the 
eggs varies from a light tint to quite a dark one, with a slight greenish tinge. The sun has an effect in 
dulling their plumage, but not nearly as much as White Leghorns or other light-coloured varieties of Poultry. 
Another point I would like to warn beginners of is that of not breeding from a cock that has a twisted 
hackle, unless he is extraordinarily good in other points. Again, another point not to be overlooked is the 
cock's tail. A very heavy-tailed cock should be avoided for the breeding pen, and our Australian-bred birds 
fail mostly in this point, as a rule having far too much tail. The tail of the cock should not be lon^, but a 
fair amount of it, and not carried too drooping as in the Malay." 
General Characteristics of the Cock. 
Head and AVf;^.— Head, rather long and stout, denoting strength, slightly heavy-browed, but not 
beetling or scowling ; skull fairly broad. Neck, nice medium length, and nicely arched. 
Beah — Yellow, striped with horn colour ; extra strong, and a trifle curved, stout at base, giving the 
head a powerful appearance. 
Face. — Smooth and fine in texture, throat and face being dotted with small feathers. 
Comb. — (If undubbed), pea or triple, small, well set on the head. 
Ear-lobes and Wattles. — Rather small, and of a rich bright red in colour. 
Eyes. — Pearl or yellow ; bright and full in expression. 
ffackle. — Short, but sufficient to cover the base of the neck, but not flowing over the shoulders, 
