I I 2 



APPENDIX C 



The "Match Bill" was a list of eacli cocker's birds 

 filled in by the person who weighed them ; it was in 

 this form : 



A. B.'s Cocks C. D.'s Cocks 



Lbs. 3 ; ozs. 6 i i 



2 2 



3 3 

 Lbs. 3 ; ozs. 7 i i 



2 2 



3 3 



and so on up to 4 Ibs. 8 ozs., which was the maximum 

 weight under Cock-pit Royal Rules 



Each bird was minutely described and his description 

 written in what was known as " Cocker's Short hand " 

 against his weight. The following is an example of 

 " Cocker's Short hand " * : 



i. Phst. B. Bir. yel. hi. co. clt. ylgs. 4 hd. m n'ls 

 wts. 3 Ibs. 3 oz. i gr. 



Which means 



" Pheasant breasted Birchen yellow, high comb, clear 

 cut, yellow legs, fours in head (i.e., owner's marks in both 

 eyelids and nostrils), middle nails whitest : weight 3 Ibs. 

 3 ozs. i grain " 



All provincial names were ignored at the Royal 

 Cock-pit, and the birds were described in proper colour 

 terms, invariably beginning with the breast, as it was 

 never trimmed 



* Life and Letters of John Han-is, the CornisJi Cocker. Privately 

 Printed. (1910) 



