66 



which render him incapable of shedding his 

 feathers after a regular manner and at a proper 

 time of the year, which if he does not it is 

 impossible he should be healthful" 



Dixon also strongly condemned the practice 

 of breeding from "tainted fowl." There were 

 many degrees of taint : in some cases it arose 

 from the use of old and battle-worn cocks ; in 

 others from walking at places where the young 

 birds were exposed to extremes of heat and 

 cold or want of water ; in others from in- 

 judicious usage when the birds came in from 

 walk and were taken up to train 



Long weapons were in vogue at this time, 

 and their use indicated necessity for cocks with 

 short thighs ; a long thigh was weak and the 

 bird was liable to break his own limbs by 

 strong striking. Activity and strength were 

 the great points at which to aim in the con- 

 formation of game-fowl. Dixon divided fight- 

 ing cocks into three classes : 



( i ) The active and ready -fight ing cock, which 

 if in perfect condition was the best, but if not in 

 such condition the worst. This kind of cock- 

 always attacked at once and in such a furious 

 manner that the designs of the foe were 



o 



frustrated 



