THE GAME COCK. 



283 



Cock. 



a strong kerseymere gaiter, and repeated the attack, in spite 

 of some severe kicks which it was found necessary to inflict 

 in self-defence. Nothing daunted, though occasionally fairly 

 kicked several yards, like a foot-ball, he would still come on 

 as fiercely as ever, for three or four times. 



During one of these assaults he received an injury which 

 lamed him for a week ; hut no sooner had he recovered 

 than he became as pugnacious as ever. His reasoning, too, 

 appeared to be on a par with his courage, for he soon dis- 

 covered that women were protected by the lower part of their 

 dress ; and accordingly, instead of flying at their legs and 

 feet, he invariably flew at their heads, fixing himself on their 

 shoulders. To such a degree did he carry on this warfare, 

 that the female who had charge of feeding the fowls, and had 

 been accustomed to poultry all her life, never ventured into 

 the yard without some weapon of defence. His offensive 

 operations were carried on with such persevering spirit, that 

 for fear of his doing some serious injury, particularly to 

 children, it was at last found necessary to destroy him. 



