272 
The Australasian Book of Poultry. 
instance, the cross between the Blacks and Duckwings will often, though not always, produce the brassy- 
winged cocks ; but there is a vast difference noticeable even in the shades of this colour, and no uniformity 
of colour can be expected in the progeny if they are again bred from. 
To Mr. W. H. Webb, of Bathurst, N.S.W., we are indebted for the following notes on the breed. These 
are all the more valuable, coming, as they do, from the universally acknowledged leading breeder and exhibitor 
of the variety in Australia, and we can safely assert that to this gentleman's efforts, by the aid of his able 
pen, his strong personality, and his indefatigable exertions, the present high state of perfection that the 
Australian Show Game Fowl has attained can, in a great measure, be attributed. Mr. Webb states : — 
" That the good cjualities of the Australian Game Fowl should be appreciated by the public is no 
surprise to those who have had the good fortune to meet it, the hens being good layers of rich eggs, and the 
cocks fine, hardy, healthy, vigorous sires, cause good results in hatchings. The chickens are hardy, and easy 
to rear. They grow fast, and soon repay the trouble of good feeding. I have seen cockerels six months 
old scale over 7 lbs., and odd ones eight months old go 9^ to 10 lbs., and well remember one fine fellow 
scaling 11 lbs. at only 10 months old. The heaviest bird I ever weighed turned the scale at 12 lbs. I have 
heard of an odd one or two going 1 3 lbs. 
" To get at the early history of this fine Fowl we must go back to the early days, when the Imperial 
troops were located at Parramatta, N.S.W. There appears to be little doubt that they originated there, from 
a cross between the British Ciame and the Malay, both brought out, no doubt, by some of the officers. 
They soon got into the hands of the Farmers about Richmond and Windsor, N.S.W. Some of the old 
hands about these splendid districts were not slow to see that the Fowl was well worth breeding and looking 
after. Colour was no object, many of the Cuckoo variety being most common. These proved great 
fighters. Amongst those who over thirty years ago bred Australian Game I must not omit the name of Mr. 
Isaac Hopkins, of Windsor. In those days they were called ' Fighters,' later on they acquired the name of 
' Colonial Game,' and more recently still they jumped the great name of ' Australian Game.' Though I had 
admired, and bred this Fowl prior to 1883, it was not until after then that I noticed that any great improve- 
ment was made in the colours. In that year, Mr. J. T. Campbell and Mr. G. Eaton were first and second 
in Black-Red cocks at the sixth Show of the N.S.W. P.P.C. and Dog Society, and well do I 
remember the smart, tight-feathered bird, trained to perfection, th.it won for Mr. Campbell, also the fine, 
large, well-made fellow that scored second for Mr. G. Eaton. 
"The following year the tables were turned — Eaton, ist ; Campbell, 2nd. I can remember this second 
prize bird as well as if he was before me now ; his perfect carriage and well-trained way of showing himself 
could never be forgotten. In 1885 Mr. R. Baldwin came off ist in cock and hen, as a pair, with an excellent 
sample; Mr. E. A Redman, 2nd. In cockerels, Mr. A. G. Friend got "home" with one the best of 
colour. 1886 found Mr. A. G. Friend ist in pairs (cock and hen), Mr. E. A. Redman, 2nd; Mr. A. G. 
Friend ist, and Mr. E. A. Redman 2nd, in cockerels. These gentlemen were well ahead in style and colour. 
In 1887 Mr. R. Baldwin came ist, and Mr. George Hayward 2nd. I had the pleasure of selecting this pair 
for Mr. Hayward the previous year, and although without a card they came out 2nd in this year, and, what is 
more, sired some great winners. In young cocks Mr. G. Hayward secured ist honours; Mr. H. Bartlett, 
2nd. In 1888 Mr. G. Hayward secured ist honours in cocks (the cock and hen system having been done 
away with), Mr. S. Wickham, 2nd. In hens Mr. E. A. Redman ist, wonderfully close feather, smart and 
good colour; Mr. A. P. F. Wilkie, 2nd. In the any colour class for cockerels, Mr. W. Lynch ist, a Brown- 
Red, and Mr. W. H. Webb 2nd, a Black-Red. In any colour pullet, Mr. W. H. Webb, ist and 2nd ; both 
Black-Reds, very tall, the winner being very good in colour. In cockerels Mr. S. Wickham came ist, a decision 
that caused much comment, the general opinion being that Mr. G. Hayward should have won easily, instead 
of being 2nd. In 1889 Mr. W. H. Webb secured ist honours in cocks with a large fellow, close in feather 
on the dark side ; Mr. J. T. Campbell 2nd, with a very large bird, also dark in colour. In hens Mr. W. H. 
Webb secured ist and 2nd, the winner being exceptionally good in comb and eyes. In cockerels, any 
colour, the winner turned up in Mr. W. H. Webb's enormous tight-feathered bird of splendid colour, which 
