case might have been made out for organised 

 cock-fighting in the clays before artificial spurs 

 came into use 



It is not necessary to dwell upon the case for 

 the defence; it may be admitted that it is in the 

 nature of cocks to fight, and that if a bird did 

 not choose to fight he could not be forced to do 

 it ; but nobody has yet ventured to argue that 

 arming cocks with metal spurs was a natural 

 proceeding 



The case of the fighting cock was at least a 

 degree less unenviable than that of the baited 

 bull. His first fight was very often his last, and 

 if injured he was carefully nursed and tended 



The unfortunate bull or bear dragged from 

 fair to fair covered with neglected wounds 

 from the teeth of the dogs set against him 

 lived a life of torture from which only age 

 or decrepitude released him 



The number of words and phrases in daily 

 use prove in striking fashion the place cocking 

 occupied in the thoughts of the people 



No amusement, no occupation has furnished 

 the English language with so many current ex- 

 pressions. "Cocky"; "cocksure" "cock of 

 the walk "; " that beats cock-fighting "; "live 

 like fighting cocks " bear their origin on the 

 face of them 



