THE GAME FOWL. 243 



for cutting the combs of Cock Chickens, is "dubbing;" and 

 birds of the first year are called Stags. The late Lord Derby 

 was so biased by his cocking tastes, \a to consider the Fowl 

 in its natural state not fit to be looked at in comparison to one 

 that was properly dubbed, cut, and trimmed for fighting : nor 

 need this surprise us, if we remember how much depends upon 

 habit and fashion. Crop-eared dogs, nicked horses, perriwig- 

 ged beaux, powdered and hooped belles, have all been admired 

 as the beau ideal of their class; and even in 1850, we should 

 rather like to see the face of a sheep-master on his sudden and 

 unexpected introduction to a flock of long-tailed, undocked 

 Leicesters. 



That in some parts of the world Cock-fights are an attraction 

 even to ladies of high degree, appears from a clever letter, 

 dated June 15, 1840. 



" The high-road leading from Mexico to San' Augustin is 

 covered with vehicles of every description. Those who are 

 not fortunate enough to possess any wheeled conveyance, come 

 out on horse, ass, or mule, single, double, or treble if neces- 

 sary ; and many hundred trudge out on foot. The President 

 of the Republic himself, in his carriage and six, and attended 

 by his aides-de-camp, sanctions by his presence the amuse- 

 ments of the fte. The Mexican generals and other officers 

 follow in his wake, and the gratifying spectacle may not un- 

 frequently be seen, of the President leaning from his box in 

 the plaza de gallos, or Cock Theatre, and betting upon a Cock, 

 with a coatless, bootless, hatless, and probably worthless raga- 

 muffin in the pit ! 



" We went to the gallos about three o'clock. The Plaza 

 was crowded, and the ladies, in their boxes, looked like a 

 parterre of different-coloured flowers. But whilst the Senoras 

 in their boxes did honour to the fete by their brilliant toilet, 

 the gentlemen promenaded round the circle in jackets, high 

 and low being on the same curtailed footing, and certainly in 



