GAME.
This is the kind expressly called the English breed by Buffon and the
French writers, and is the noblest and most beautiful of all breeds,
combining an admirable figure, brilliant plumage, and stately gait. It
is most probably derived from the larger or continental Indian species
of the Javanese, or Bankiva Jungle Fowl--the _Gallus Bankiva_ of
Temminck--which is a distinct species, distinguished chiefly from the
Javanese fowl by its larger size. (_See_ page 124.) Of this continental
species, Sir W. Jardine states that he has seen three or four specimens,
all of which came from India proper. The Game cock is the undisputed
king of all poultry, and is unsurpassed for courage. The Malay is more
cruel and ferocious, but has less real courage. Game fowls are in every
respect fighting birds, and, although cock-fighting is now very properly
prohibited by law, Game fowls are always judged mainly in reference to
fighting qualities. But their pugnacious disposition renders them very
troublesome, especially if they have not ample range, although it does
not disqualify them for small runs to the extent generally supposed. A
blow with his spur is dangerous, and instances have been recorded of
very severe injuries inflicted upon children, even causing death. An old
newspaper states that "Mr. Johnson, a farmer in the West Riding of
Yorkshire, who has a famous breed of the Game fowl, has had the great
misfortune to lose his little son, a boy of three years old, who was
attacked by a Game cock, and so severely injured that he died shortly
afterwards." High-bred hens are quite as pugnacious as the cocks. The
chickens are very quarrelsome, and both cocks and hens fight so
furiously, that frequently one-half of a brood is destroyed, and the
other half have to be killed.
Game fowls are hardy when they can have liberty, but cannot be well kept
in a confined space. They eat little, and are excellent for an
unprotected place, because by their activity they avoid danger
themselves, and by their courage defend their chickens from enemies. The
hen is a prolific layer, and, if she has a good run, equal to any breed.
The eggs, though of moderate size only, are remarkable for delicacy of
flavour. She is an excellent sitter, and still more excellent mother.
The chickens are easily reared, require little food, and are more robust
in constitution than almost any other variety.
The flesh of the Game fowl is beautifully white, and superior to that of
all other breeds for richness and delicacy of flavour. They should never
be put up to fat, as they are impatient of confinement. "They are in no
way fit for the fattening-coop," says Mr. Baily. "They cannot bear the
extra food without excitement, and that is not favourable to obesity.
Nevertheless, they have their merits. If they are reared like pheasants
round a keeper's house, and allowed to run semi-wild in the woods, to
frequent sunny banks and dry ditches, they will grow up like them; they
will have little fat, but they will be full of meat. They must be eaten
young; and a Game pullet four or five months old, caught up wild in this
way, and killed two days before she is eaten, is, perhaps, the most
delicious chicken there is in point of flavour."
The Game-fowl continues to breed for many years without showing any
signs of decay, and in this respect is superior to the Cochin, Brahma,
and even to the Dorking.
The cock's head should be long, but fine; beak long, curved, and strong;
comb single, small, upright, and bright red; wattles and face bright
red; eyes large and brilliant; neck long, arched, and strong; breast
well developed; back short and broad between the shoulders, but tapering
to the tail; thighs muscular, but short compared to the shanks; spur
low; foot flat, with powerful claws, and his carriage erect. The form of
the hen should resemble the above on a smaller scale, with small, fine
comb and face, and wattles of a less intense red. The feathers of both
should be very hard, firm, and close, very strong in the quills, and
seem so united that it should be almost impossible to ruffle them, each
feather if lifted up falling readily into its original place. Size is
not a point of merit, from four to six pounds being considered
sufficient, and better than heavier weights. Among the list of
imperfections in Game cocks, Sketchley enumerates "flat sides, short
legs, thin thighs, crooked or indented breast, short thin neck,
imperfect eye, and duck or short feet."
"It is the custom," says Miss Watts, "consequently imperative, that all
birds which are exhibited should have been dubbed, and this should not
be done until the comb is so much developed that it will not spring
again after the dubbing. This will be safe if the chicken is nearly six
months old, but some are more set than others at a certain age. A keen
pair of scissors is the best instrument with which to operate. Hold the
fowl with a firm hand, cut away the deaf ears and wattles, then cut the
comb, cutting a certain distance from the back, and then from the front
to join this cut, taking especial care not to go too near the skull.
Some operators put a finger inside the mouth to get a firm purchase. We
should like to see dubbing done away with, leaving these beautiful fowls
as nature makes them; but since amateurs and shows will not agree to
this, it is best to give directions for dubbing, as an operation
bunglingly performed is sure to give unnecessary pain." To save the bird
from excessive loss of blood his wattles are usually cut off a week
later. Every superfluous piece of flesh and skin should be removed.
The "Henwife" well says: "Why these poor birds are condemned to submit
to this cruel operation is a mystery, unfathomable, I suspect, even by
the judges themselves. Cock-fighting being forbidden by law, the cocks
should, on principle, be left undubbed, as a protest against this brutal
amusement. The comb of the Game male bird is as beautifully formed as
that of the Dorking; why then rob it of this great ornament? It is
asserted that it is necessary to remove the comb to prevent the cocks
injuring each other fatally in fighting; but this is not true; a Dorking
will fight for the championship as ardently as any Game bird, and yet
his comb is spared. Cockerels will not quarrel if kept apart from hens
until the breeding season, when they should be separated, and put on
their several walks. If pugnaciously inclined I do not believe that the
absence of the comb will save the weaker opponent from destruction;
therefore I raise my voice for pity, in favour of the beautiful Game
cock."
The colours are various, and they are classed into numerous varieties
and sub-varieties, of which the chief are--Black-breasted Red;
Brown-Red; Silver Duck-wing Greys, so called from the feathers
resembling those of a duck; Greys; Blues; Duns; Piles, or Pieds; Black;
White; and Brassy-winged, which is Black with yellow on the lesser wing
coverts. Colours and markings must be allowed a somewhat wide range in
this breed; and figure, with courage, may be held to prove purity of
blood though the colour be doubtful. Mr. Douglas considers the
Black-breasted Red the finest feathered Game, and states that he never
found any come so true to colour as a brood of that variety. White in
the tail feathers is highly objectionable, though not an absolute
disqualification. White fowls should be entirely white, with white legs.
The rules for the coloured legs are very undecided. Light legs match
light-coloured birds best. No particular colour is imperative, but it
should harmonise with the plumage, and all in a pen must agree.
The best layers are the Black-breasted Reds with willow legs, and the
worst the Greys.