234: THE GAME FOWL. 



Not wishing, therefore, to stimulate our youth to Cock- 

 fighting, any more than we would lead them to over-sensitive 

 refinement or spurious humanity, we will give no further di- 

 rections about the rearing of Game-chicks (although it would 

 be very easy to do so) than to state that, instead of allotting 

 twenty-four Hens to one Cock, in a " ward," too, as has been 

 currently published and believed to be a good plan, one Cock, 

 with two, or at most three Hens, should be quietly located at 

 large, in some spot where they are secure from giving or re- 

 ceiving interruption. The -Cockerels three-quarters ^rown (an 

 example to our lads) are not permitted to run as they choose 

 with any society that may offer, but are withdrawn to quiet, 

 rural, airy, grassy walks, where they are encouraged to scratch 

 the ground as much as they like, to increase their means of 

 livelihood, and are removed from the temptation (the possibility, 

 indeed,) of having any but the most discreet female society. 

 Cocks so educated are valuable for better purposes than for 

 fighting and being betted upon. They become first-rate fathers 

 of families. If a stock of Poultry is flagging and degenerate, 

 the owner hardly knows why, the admission of a good Grame 

 Cock will soon set all to rights. His very look and air inspire 

 health and cheerfulness into the dispirited Hens. He fertilizes 

 the Eggs of every variety of Domestic Fowl, from the little 

 Black Bantam to the portly Dorking. The issue of such 

 crosses does not always resemble either parent, but it is sure 

 to be something pretty, useful, and thrifty. " Bad the crow, 

 bad the egg," xaxov xopaxog xaxbv wor. Vice versa, good the 

 Cock, good the Chick ; there is certainly something in breeding. 



The males of almost every variety are lovely creatures, 

 though tastes differ as to the preference. They do not attain 

 their perfect plumage till their third year, and perhaps increase 

 in beauty for a year or two afterwards. I think I have heard 

 that, according to the modern rules of the Pit, birds are not 

 admissible after they have attained a certain age and weight. 



