GAME FOWL. 37 



utmost possible care, in short, was taken, that the matched birds 

 should fight, and no substitutes intruded. The following sketch 

 oj a set-to, is from the pen of a celebrated amateur : 



The only persons allowed on the platform are the setters-to. 

 The first I shall name Nash, the younger ; he was followed by a 

 stout, plump, old, ostler- looking man, named Nash, the elder. 

 This person carried a white bag, containing one of the brave birds 

 for the battle. The two men stepped upon the mat; the hubbub 

 is instantaneous " Two to one on Nash" " A guinea on Nash" 

 " Nash a crown ;" the bets are laid on the setter-to. From the 

 opposite side of the pit, a similar procession entered ; the setter-to, 

 Fleming, by name, did not appear so great a favourite as young 

 Nash. The chuckle of the cock in his bag was answered deeply 

 and savagely from the other, and the straw seemed spurned in 

 the narrow cell. 



Nash's bag was carefully untied, and Nash himself took out 

 one of the handsomest birds I think I ever beheld ; he was a red 

 and black bird; slim, masculine, trimmed, yet with feathers 

 glossy, as though the sun shone only on his nervous wings ; his 

 neck arose out of the bag, snake-like terrible as if it would 

 stretch upwards to the ceiling; his body followed compact, 

 strong, and beautiful ; and his long, dark blue, sinewy legs came 

 forth clean, handsome, shapely, determined, iron- like ! The 

 silver spur was on each heel, of an inch and a half in length, tied 

 on in the most delicate and neat manner; his large, vigorous 

 beak showed aquiline, eagle-like ; and his black, dilating eyes 

 took in all around him, and shone so intensely brilliant, that they 

 looked like jewels ; their light was that of thoughtful, sedate, and 

 savage courage ; his comb was cut close ; his neck trimmed ; his 

 wings clipped, pointed, and strong ; the feathers on his back were 

 of the very glossiest red, and appeared to be the only ones which 

 were left untouched ; the tail was docked triangie-ways, like a 

 hunter's. The gallant bird clucked defiance, and looked as if he 

 ** had in him something dangerous !" Nash gave him to Fleming, 

 who held him up above his head, examined his beak, his wings, 

 his legs, while a person read to him the description of the bird 

 from paper ; and upon finding all correct, he delivered the rich, 

 feathered warrior back to Nash, and proceeded to produce his own 

 bird for a similar examination. 



But I must speak of the senior Nash the old man, the feeder. 

 When again may I have an opportunity of describing him? and 

 what ought a paper upon cocking be accounted worth, if it fail to 

 contain some sketch, however slight, of old Nash ? He wore a 



