298 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
to press if the cock should attempt to struggle ; the operation then commences, by putting the left 
hand swiftly round the cock’s head or neck, and running the scissors straight from the back oi 
comb to the beak, taking all the little spike-like feathers off close, which gives the head a much 
smoother and finer appearance ; then draw the skin sideways off the cheek, tight, with the thumb, 
and carry the scissors along the cheek in the same way, which will smooth all the little spiky 
feathers off there. Many draw them out with small pincers, but I do not approve of this, as it has 
to be repeated, but when close clipped it is done with. All that is left to be done previous to 
sending off is with a small nice clean sponge, and a very little salad oil, to sponge the fleshy parts 
of the head and face, but not leaving a lot of oil on ; this is what gives the nice bright coral-like 
appearance that most professional show-men’s Game have their first day in the show-pens. 
“ A Game cock, if well walked, requires no feeding to prepare for show ; but, if in low con- 
dition, about three or four days in a quite clean pen, feeding twice a day on a teacupful of nice 
boiled new milk and bread, with a handful of thoroughly good barley at night, will make a great 
difference, and throw a nice gloss on the feathers. This is all that is necessary, for it does not 
answer to train a cock for show as you would to fight. If living handy to his run, it is well to give 
a feed of split peas daily for a fortnight ; but a naturally hard-fleshed bird, taken off his walk, may 
be fed on almost what you like. A cock for fighting is got up to a certain pitch just by a certain 
day, after which he goes back fast ; but that would not do for a show. A cock should be shown 
as nearly in his natural condition as possible ; but if fed up for showing he will show it the second 
day. If it were not to get the birds used to the pens, I would never pen one up even for an hour, 
and I can always count all the trained birds in a show by their falling off the second or third day. 
“ To keep them right on returning from shows, give boiled milk and bread, but no hard food, 
for the first day or so ; then feed as usual, when, if of good constitution, they will be fit again in a 
week’s time. For several weeks they will keep this up without perceptible injury ; as, having no 
extra flesh to carry, like Cochins, they can stand it better.” 
Mr. Douglas’ remarks will be best followed by those prepared for the present edition by 
Mr. W. F. Entwisle : — 
“ After the lapse of so many years since the first edition of this work was issued, it will not be 
surprising to find that some revision has become necessary in order to bring the improved standards 
down to the present time ; and that, among others, ‘ Game fowls ’ require some few additions or 
alterations. In conformity to the anticipations expressed in the former editions, the standard for 
Brown-reds has improved more, perhaps, than that for any other colour. Poultry shows have 
mainly contributed towards the general improvement, and especially the valuable challenge cups 
and other prizes recently offered for Game fowls. The press has also in no small degree assisted 
in the matter. The result, as seen to-day in the exhibition pen, is a finer and noble-looking bird, 
averaging at least one or one and a half pounds heavier, standing fully an inch taller than formerly, 
and yet losing nothing in gracefulness, activity, or courage. As regards colour, a far greater uni- 
formity is observed in the winning pens than was the case even a few years back. This has been 
very greatly owing to the consistent judging of the late Mr. J. H. Smith. Exhibitors know what 
to breed for in order to be successful, and that is a point gained ; and it is seldo-m we now see 
birds shown with such evident signs of the Malay cross, as a few years ago were frequently met 
with even in the prize lists. It may be worth noting that within half-a-dozen years, at least 
four or five Black-red cocks have been claimed at shows at prices of £ 100 and £101, and that as 
much as £150 was refused for a bird in December, 1883. 
