The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-13
GAMES OLDEST KNOWN BREED.
Heard OF In India Centuries Before
Christian Era.

Game fowls have been in existence
as long as poultry has been known.
Records show that game fowls of
some kind existed in India for CEN
turies before the Christian era. His
tory refers to cockfghts as one of
the Roman pleasures. and cooking
mains have been popular all through
English history.
The original black breasted red
game was of the pit game or fighting
type. which Is commonly known as
the old English black red game. The
latter still exists as one Of the stand
ard varieties Of pit games, but the
exhibition type Is plainly the result
OK careful selection and breeding by
fanciers. who have succeeded in per-
fecting q game fowl that Is entirely
different In form and feather from its
lighting progenitor.
These exhibition games have lost
little Of the fiery game temper. and
II two Of the males get together they
VIII fight as savagely as their Dit
game progenitors and, II not separt-
ed by the attendant the battle will
continue until one Of the contesta nts
Is dead.
The exhibition black breasted red
game Is variety whose utility
qualities are very limited, and II is
bred chiefly by a number of fanciers.
VINO admire Its extreme height, beau.
tiful coloring and what is to them
graceful lines.
1t Is bred more extensively In Eng
land than in America. and in the for
mer country competition among the
breeders is very keen. Many high
class specimens have been imported
into this country at big prices.
These fowls are notable for their
width of shoulders, fun heavily
museled breast, long legs and neck.
short tapering tail and general short
ness and hardness of feathers. For
show purposes 1t is necessary to cut
on the comb and wattles from the
males, process known as dub
bing." This gives the head a long,
lean appearance.
The black-red male is beautifully
colored. His head. neck, back, top
or wings and secondary fight feathers
are red and the breast, body, tail and
wing bow a glossy green black. The
female is clothed in soft and modest
shades OF brown. Her neck Is gold.
en- yellow with a dark strip down the
centre Of each feather. Her breast
Is salmon. blending into the brown
OF the thighs. The back, thighs and
body are brown. finely penciled with a
darker shade Of the same color.
Black red games are not easily
handled. They are pugnacious. This
prevents the keeping of more than
one male In flock. and IL one Of the
females has been removed from the
pen for a short time and then put
back the others will fight and kill her
unless carefully watched.
They are. however, readily confined.
being heavy and having very short
wings. which prevents them from
flying easily. They make excellent
table fowls, having extremely we'll
developed breasts and big, heavy
thighs. The eggs are brown In color
ard enjoy the reputation Of posse ssing
particularly rich flavor.
The chicks are not easily reared
unless the weather conditions are
good. series OF heavy rains often
VIII cause the death of many chicks.
Taken altogether. the rearing OF black
breasted red games is a problem for
the man who takes a keen interest
In breeding for results that are not
easy to get and delights In surmount-
ing obstacles his auccass