286 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry, 
Spangles come out. This retention of the cross being so remarkable, I thought it worth mentioning, 
especially as the difference in colour being so great there was no mistaking it; and it shows how 
careful we ought to be, after putting together different colours, to keep it from re-appearing when 
not wanted. 
“ One very mistaken notion is the idea of most breeders as to the few hens they think ought 
to be put to a cock. Just keep in mind how many prolific eggs you will get from a hen after the 
cock has been taken away, and consider in that time, even if twenty hens had been running with 
the cock, whether during the length of time she would have been in laying trim — say while she 
laid eleven eggs — the cock would not have paid attention to each of those twenty, and the eggs 
be far more likely to produce strong chickens ? I have proof, and very strong proof, even in 
heavy birds ; for the most successful year I ever had in Dorkings I ran seventeen hens -with one 
cockerel, and never had I such heavy and strong-constitutioned birds. Feed well, and give a 
good run, and I should not be afraid to run twenty-five hens with one cock, though he must be 
a young healthy bird ; but even a two-year-old I should not fear to mate with eleven hens, and 
would expect to be successful. 
“ I am very sorry to see every now and then some novice or old antiquated breeder stating 
that the Game fowl has deteriorated within this last fifteen or twenty years. I myself have kept 
Game for about forty years ; and when lawful to fight cocks have carried my Game cock to school 
to fight, and many is the three days’ fighting I have seen in the town-hall, with magistrates for 
the principals ; and I have even myself, when a boy, had a cock-fight with the head magistrate’s 
cock, and won. Many is the main I have seen between one end of the town and the other ; also 
town against town, and two or three battles a week the whole winter through. At night, after 
a hunt day, I have seen many a battle for more money than I should like to name. In those days 
we studied nothing but the blood. So the cock was ‘ game,’ we neither looked for symmetry nor 
beauty of plumage ; but still, at the same time, when we did happen to get a nice symmetrical 
bird, we prided ourselves on him greatly, and seldom but he turned out a ‘clipper’ in the pit. The 
main point is a firmness of flesh and great muscular power, with the least lumber ; and many 
of our present exhibitors have often heard remarked from those who still often see birds in the 
pit, ‘What a nice, commanding, “reachey” cock ! — not one of the thick clumsy louts ; but nice and 
springy, and fit to fight for his life!’ Those who keep harping on the point that our Game fowls 
are not so good as they were, should tell us in what points they are not so good. They say they 
do not want them for the pit, and never saw a fight, nor do they want to see one ; what then do 
they want ? For my own part I consider there has been more improvement in the Game fowl than 
in any fowl we have within the last thirty years, if we place perfection in beauty, symmetry, purity 
of feather, more muscle, less but stronger bone, and more hardness of flesh. I consider we have 
discarded cumbersome flesh laid on where not wanted, got more muscle, more symmetry, purity 
of feather, and everything more pleasing to the eye. I cannot understand what people want. 
There is the ‘game’ in them now that will stand to be cut up if wanted ; though sorry should I be 
to have to witness a grand and beautiful bird disfigured for that purpose. In the fields or yards, 
however, the Game cock is just as vigilant and fearless as he was thirty years ago ,• and hens at the 
present day are just as demonstrative and careful of their broods. So where do they see the ‘want 
of game ?’ Those people, I am sure, are unsuccessful exhibitors ; but if they would follow the 
advice of those who are successful, there would be none of this ridiculous nonsense about Game 
deteriorating, when it is far otherwise. Get such birds as I describe, and breed them ; and if not 
successful in the second year, then complain : but you will not fail if you can or will educate the 
eye to beauty, symmetry, and purity of feather; nnd, giving up the idea of the old cart-horse 
