68 



fought without either breaking or bending 

 Smith's spurs almost double. Such power, it 

 might be thought, would be rather against the 

 bird, since spurs might not be changed during 

 a match. 



The (3) and last kind was the Artful fighting 

 cock : this sort always were on their guard 

 from the moment they were pitted ; they took 

 the measure of the adversary, and if they found 

 him "too long or too strong" for them, never 

 allowed him a fair blow at the face ; shooting 

 off clear of danger after putting in a stroke. 

 Such a cock had great staying power and would 

 beat a bird much heavier and stronger than 

 himself 



The " Plimouths " of Wilkins of Grantham 

 are mentioned as the best examples of the 

 Artful cock, whose presence of mind was their 

 strong point 



Dixon is the first authority to advocate 

 incestuous breeding of game-fowl ; he says, 

 brother and sister may be mated, but he thought 

 it preferable to breed from half-brother and 

 sister, " that is twice by the cock but from 

 different hens," provided a year's trial of each 

 has produced good results ; or own cousins 

 could be mated with advantage 



Dixon mentions a successful cross made by 

 Mr. Boston of Lincoln, between his Duckwings 



