THE COCK. £07 



mals of the flying species exhibit so many varieties as 

 the cock, there being scarcely two birds of this de- 

 scription that resemble each other in plumage and 

 shape ; the tail, which makes such a beautiful figure 

 in the generality of this species, some of them are en- 

 tirely without; and others seem still more imperfect in 

 their formation, as they have not the slightest appear- 

 ance of a rump : the toes, which in other birds of the 

 poultry kind do not amount to more than four, is in- 

 creased to five in this animal ; and there is a species 

 which comes from Japan, which, instead of feathers, 

 is kept warm by a covering of hair. 



In the island of Tinian, and many others in the In- 

 dian ocean, the cock is found in his native state ; his 

 plumage there is black and yellow, and his comb and 

 wattles of the latter colour and purple combined : oa 

 the coast of Malabar they likewise bear the same ap- 

 pearance ; and, when boiled, a strange effect is pro- 

 duced upon their bones, for they all become as black 

 as ebony, instead of presenting, like ours, a pinkish 

 kind of white. 



Upon the first introduction of the cock into Eu- 

 rope, those with a reddish plumage was the most highly 

 prized, not merely from knowing them to be more 

 courageous than the white one, but from finding the 

 species more likely to increase. In China, India, and 

 the Philippine Islands, cock-fighting is a principal 

 amusement amongst the great ; and even kings and 

 princes participate in an enjoyment which casts upon 

 humanity an indelible stain. In England it likewise 

 used to be a favourite diversion, but, to the credit of 

 the present age, it is very much disused, and it is to 

 be hoped the period is not distant when the cruel en- 

 joyment will be totally restrained. The cock is thought 



