THE GAME F OW L. 239 



jeets, perhaps did not understand his own expression; Ibut 

 through the kindness of the Earl of Derby, I am enabled to 

 give an account of the breed, furnished by the person who has 

 charge of the birds : it is still retained in its original purity, 

 for the sake of its ornithology, not its gladiatorial value. 



Mr. Thomas Roscoe states, " I have known the best of 

 Game Cocks to turn off when out of condition, but not on any 

 other occasion. The original blood has been in the hands of 

 John Roscoe and family, as breeders to his lordship, for sixty 

 years, and I should suppose it came to Knowsley in Lord 

 Strange' s days, the grandfather of the present Earl. 



" The Cock is a fine round-shaped bird, with white striped 

 bill; daw eyes and fiery; round and strong neck; fine, round, 

 close-feathered hackle, feather points to shoulders; short, stiff, 

 broad back, close-feathered and hard ; tail long and sickled, 

 well tufted at root ; wings round and well prolonged, so as to 

 protect the thighs ; breast broad and black ; belly small and 

 tight in the pinions ; thighs short and thick, well set to the 

 body; legs long and white; smooth insteps; claws strong; 

 nails long and white ; the comb of a Stag is rather large and 

 red, before being cut ; weight about 5 Ibs. 



11 The Hen is of a fine round shape, in colour resembling a 

 partridge, with daw eyes, white legs, toes, and nails, and large 

 and fanned tail. The Chicks when first hatched incline to 

 yellow, with a darkish stripe down their back, changing colour 

 as they advance in age. The Eggs vary in colour ; I should 

 prefer those inclined to buff; they are generally well-propor- 

 tioned, inclining to length. The Hens are capital sitters and 

 nurses. 



" We generally cut the combs of the young Cocks when 

 between six and nine months old ; the spurs are left on to 

 defend them on their walk, and are only cut off when they are 

 penned up previous to fighting, in which state they spend 

 about eleven days, and are trained by making them spar in 



