THE GALLINACEOUS TRIBES 



239 



chiefly from France and Belgium, and are 

 brought thence to poultry shows, where the 

 cocks will fight with one another if they can. 

 Though forbidden by law, these 

 cockfights are frequent, and the 

 authorities pretend not to see them. 

 If by chance the police arrive, a 

 person previously designated allows 

 himself to be arrested. Large sums 

 are often staked in these fights. 

 The care bestowed by owners on 

 the belligerents is amazing. A cock 

 of the fighting species is generally 

 regarded and treated as a member 

 of the family, and if he has won 

 several victories he becomes a 

 source of considerable revenue. 

 The birds are sent by railway from 

 place to place, and arrive on the 

 scene of combat armed with sharp- 

 ened spurs. It often happens that 

 they kill their adversaries at the first blow. 

 This is actual maltreatment of animals, and 

 may be compared with Spanish bullfights. 



little 



A Lo\-i-;r of FifiHTs 



larger than a pigeon, though very tall upon the 

 legs. They are pleasant to care for, taking 

 room and being very gentle. They are 

 of different colors and are usually 

 raised by amateurs, appearing often 

 at poultry shows. 



Besides these smaller combatants 

 we must name the baiitains, which 

 are of every color imaginable . They 

 are often used to hatch the eggs 

 of pheasants and partridges. They 

 are also remarkable for laying many 

 eggs of proportionate size. One of 

 the finest of the dwarf breeds is the 

 Soyciisc, or Negro, fowl. In place 

 of feathers it is covered with long 

 white hairs. These are superb ani- 

 mals, used frequently for incubating 

 pheasants. The name "Negro" 

 comes from the fact that their skin 

 is black. 



One of the handsomest of the decorative 

 birds is the hooded Padnan fowl. It is of 

 ordinary size and its whole value lies in its 

 hof)d, or topknot. The larger and more tufted 

 that is, the more chance the bird has of win- 

 ning prizes at poultry shows. In poultry, 

 nothing can be more magnificent than a collec- 

 tion of Paduan fowls. They may be of all colors, 



Sm.\li, German Cock 



The other qualities of the fighting breeds are 

 not many. They produce few eggs and their 

 flesh is not worth much. 



Other belligerent breeds besides those of 

 France and Belgium exist, such as the Brussels, 

 the German, and the Mechlin. The latter are 

 superb creatures, seen only at poultry shows. 

 The small fighting cocks have the same form 

 but are greatly reduced in size. They are not 



A Padu.ax Cock 



silvery, golden, buff, white, black, etc. The 



finest of the race is the White-Hooded Dutch 

 Cock. He is all black excepting the hood, which 



