STOEIES ABOUT BIRDS. ' 115 



alight near a farm house, when a young cock, 

 of less than a year old, instantly darted at him, 

 and threw him on his back. In this situation, 

 the hawk defended himself with his talons and 

 his bill, frightening the hens and turkeys, 

 which screamed at the top of their voice. 

 After the hawk had recovered himself a little, 

 he rose, and was preparing to make off with 

 himself; but the cock rushed wpon him a 

 second time, overturned him, and held him 

 down so long that he was caught. 



One of the most barbarous sports of modern 

 times, is that of cock-fighting. I am sorry to 

 say that it is practiced now, to some extent, in 

 civilized communities. Large bets are made 

 upon two rival cocks. Artificial spurs, made 

 of some kind of metal, are placed upon the 

 legs of the cocks, to enable them to fight more 

 savagely. Sometimes one of the cocks falls 

 down dead while fighting, and cases sometimes 

 occur in which they both die in actual combat. 

 Such sports must have a bad influence on those 

 who witness them, and especially on those who 

 take a more active part in them. I should 

 think it would almost turn people into a race 

 of tigers, after a while. I sincerely hope that 

 none of my readers will ever have any thing to 

 do with cock-fighting. 



