JUNGLE FOWL. 



41 



Cocking had its royal patronage and promotion so late as 

 George the Fourth's time ; and although now prohibited in Lon- 

 don, Dublin, and Edinburgh, I have it from good authority, that 

 in the remote parts of England, Ireland, and Scotland, this prac- 

 tice still exists amongst the lower orders. 



I have been favoured with some fine specimens from the great 

 aviary, at Knowsley, and shall treat the connoisseurs with a sight 

 of the black-breasted red, at our annual exhibition. 



I feel there is some apology due to my readers for the length 

 of this article, and for my digression from the " utile et dulce" 

 course marked out in my introduction. By its total omission, my 

 chain would be deficient a remarkable link ; and having taken the 

 subject in hand, 1 found it impossible to be more concise. 



THE BANTAM. 



" Proud of his plumage and his spurs, 

 The feathered coxcomb struts, gallant and blithe, 

 As any beardless cornet of dragoons." 



The Sebright Bantam, or Sebright Jungle Fowl, takes precedence 

 of the whole puny tribe, for beauty of plumage, strut, demeanour, 



