Description of Black-breasted Red Game. 
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style, ‘ go in * for blood-looking animals, that are fit either to go the pace or stay, besides being all 
that you want in a show-pen. [This was written of the fowl as exhibited in 1872.] 
“ BLACK-BREASTED RED GAME. — I now give the points I consider a really good 
Black-red cock ought to have for a stock bird. Beak to be strong, slightly curved, and stout 
where set in the head. Head rather inclined to be long, and not round and bullet-shaped ; the 
least- possible indent over the eye gives a snake-like appearance which is much admired. Eyes 
bright red, rather prominent, with a fearless expression. Face a smooth fine skin ; the throat the 
same. Ears red, not inclined to white. Neck rather long, and a little arched ; short hackle, with 
the points just meeting between the shoulders, but reaching very little on the back. Back fiat, 
wide at shoulders, and narrowing to the tail. Breast round and full. Stern to be clear between 
the hocks, not let down, but a clear line. Saddle-feathers close and short, and not too many of 
them. Wings strong, and not over long, having a great substance at the shoulders ; not confined 
close at the breast, but to be seen a little detached, as if ready to fly at the first intruder — be he 
cat, dog, or cock — the points resting over the thighs, but under the saddle. Tail medium length, 
neither too long nor short, but nicely carried; neither ‘squirrel’ nor drooping, but between the 
two ; not much spread out, but nicely ‘ Venetianed,’ with about seven secondary sickle-feathers each 
side, the one nicely fitting just above the other; of course the two main sickles about four or five 
inches longer than the straight tail. Thighs round, stout, full of muscle, firm, rather long, but well 
carried in close to the body — not stilty, but so that you can distinguish their form and where set in 
when facing you. Shanks medium length, nicely rounded, neither flat nor quite round, with a nice 
clean joint in setting-on to the thigh-bone, well standing apart, and beautifully scaled. Spurs set 
low, and inclined to point back. Feet flat ; toes well spread out, and the hind toe to come straight 
and flat out from the foot ; not, as many do, drooping so as to put just the point to the ground. 
This latter form is nearly as objectionable as what is termed duck-footed, which is when the hind 
toe inclines to point forward the same way as the front toes. The toes should be a good length, 
and well spread out, with good strong nails. The colour of the legs should be willow or olive, to 
blend well with the colour of this cock. 
“ Plumage as follows : — Head and neck-hackles orange-red to the points ; back and shoulder- 
coverts and wing-bow rich crimson or claret, shading into orange on the saddle-hackles ; breast 
black, with a steel-blue shade all over the breast ; tail rich black, with a slight purple bronze shade 
in secondary sickles. There are different shades in the Black-reds, but none blends better, or is 
warmer, and nicer, and pleasanter to the eye, than the above colours, which we will call No. 1. I 
will, however, give the colour of another very successful shade of the Black-reds, which is easier 
bred, but I must own is not so beautiful, and which we will call No. 2. The cock is more of a red 
clay-colour in hackle ; deep rich r£d back ; and shoulder-coverts and wing-bow a little brighter 
red ; the saddle similar to hackle ; in fact, too much of a sameness all over to make the colour 
pleasant, but still they have the symmetry of the more favoured coloured ones. There is 
also another colour of Black-red, but it seldom proves successful unless a poor lot happens 
to be exhibited. The hackle is red, darkly striped, running off to a light straw ; back 
claret • shoulder-coverts red clay-colour ; saddle almost a red straw. These birds, which I 
will call No. 3, are in general soft to the touch for want of muscle, and far form firm 
in the hand. 
“ So far as the cocks in the Black-reds are concerned, I think enough might be gleaned from 
these remarks to assist a novice, as this is intended for such, as well as a reference to be compared 
by older hands, in breeding from what they may have. Now 1 will give the three colours and 
