given a true game- hen she would produce 

 good fowl to any barn-yard cock was still held 

 by many, and more advanced cock masters 

 were now endeavouring to correct it 



In the year 1/44, Thomas Dixon, of York, 

 an authority at once practical and thoughtful, 

 produced a book,* in which he sought explana- 

 tion of the deeply-rooted conviction that every- 

 thing depended on the hen, and gave his own 

 sensible views on the subject. 



Cocks, he points out, were continually in 

 training, were "harassed about" by journeys, 

 which, together with the wounds received in 

 battle, impaired their constitutions and brought 

 upon them the premature old age which affects 

 vigour and reproductive power. Hens, on the 

 other hand, were not subject to these influences 

 and, living quietly at home, retained their con- 

 stitution and breeding powers unimpaired. In 

 a word, that hens led a natural life, whereas 

 cocks did not 



Moreover, Dixon thought the clipping of a 

 cock for battle disturbed the natural course of 

 moulting. " All breeders must allow that during 

 the time of a cock's being out of feather he is 

 liable to a great many casualties and misfortunes 



* A Treatie on the Nature and tvue Foundation of Breed- 

 ing Cocks. (York, 1744) 



F 



