304 
The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
apt to show white in the tail, as seen in the illustration. This is not desirable ; but if the 
good qualities of the breed are to be kept up, we sincerely hope too much stress may not 
be laid upon such points in the exhibition pen. There are also some other colours recognised, 
as “bright” red, and “blue” red, and spangles; but as these points may alter somewhat, 
we need not give them here. The really important distinctions, we hope these few words and 
our illustration may make clear, taken with the particulars given in the schedule. 
The Old English Game is a most valuable fowl for crossing, especially with Dorking. 
The varieties or colours known to and described by the old cock-fighters were almost endless. 
Caring, as they did, very little for colour merely, they bred all sorts ; and some of these were 
known by names which could not be mentioned in a work of this description. As specimens, 
however, of the names by which some of the colours were known, we may mention Blue Duns, Red 
Duns, Mealy Greys, Polecats, Treacle-breasted Marigold Duckwings, Ginger-breasted Orange 
Blues, Dark Birchens or Birchen-greys, &c. Others, such as the Tassels, furnished with a tuft 
or crest of long feathers ; Muffs, having a lot of feathers about the throat ; Rose-combs, from the 
low, spiked comb ; Round-polls, showing clear indications of crossing with the Asiatic ; and the 
Hennies, described above, seem to have been really distinct breeds, but, except the Henny, do not 
require further mention. 
In America, where cock-fighting is still carried on to a very large extent, though in most 
States prohibited as in England, the same system of breeding is still carried on ; indeed, the 
various strains are yet more confounded, American breeders of Game being as a rule vehemently 
opposed to all in-breeding. Dr. Cooper, in his work of 300 pages on “ Game Fowls,” which 
is written entirely from the cock-pit point of view, and which lies before us as we write, is very 
strongly against the practice, and in favour of crosses, contrary to the belief of the best English 
breeders of all kinds of stock. He gives description by name of over sixty distinct strains ; most 
of which, however, seem to derive their appellatives from the breeders, or other qualities than blood 
or colour. As a choice sample, we may quote the names of Counterfeits, Clippers, Tartars, 
Claibornes, Old Nicks, Strychnines, Bob Mace Shufflers, Billy Beards, Gee Dominies, Susquehanna 
Reds, Jersey Nub-combs, Wild Irish, Baker White-legs, Conkeys, &c. He gives, besides, a list of 
more than thirty approved crosses between these supposed distinct strains ; and bitterly inveighs 
against any in-breeding as ruinous to vigour and all other qualities valued by the cocker, a con- 
clusion in which he will be opposed by universal British experience, as even the old fighting strains 
of English Game fowls had been perfected by the closest in-breeding in many cases. Dr. Cooper 
seems to give the preference to the so-called “ Tartar ” strain, of which, indeed, he seems from his 
work to be the special proprietor ; and describes even the pure stock as breeding alike Black-reds, 
Reds with black breasts, Blue-reds, and Brown-reds, and either green (willow), blue, or yellow legs. 
They are very large, ranging as high even as eight pounds, a weight which would make English 
cockers stare; but there is no doubt they are hard and stubborn fighters. Of late, however, as we 
know from reliable and independent sources, the most highly-prized breeds for fighting in the 
States are those known as Claibornes (sometimes called Mobiles), and Heathwoods. The Clai- 
bornes were formed, it is said, by crossing the English breed known as Lord Sefton’s (a Black-red), 
with Spanish-bred hens, and are remarkable for the hens almost always having long and sharp 
spurs, while the weapons of the cock are so keen that the birds are often fought naturally, instead 
of being armed with steel. Mr. Heathcott’s strain is described by a notorious American cocker of 
the present day as the best he knows ; but these, again, are said to be “ bred in all the usual 
colours,” showing great mixture of blood. 
