DOMESTIC FOWLS. 617 



of all the varieties. The time has now passed away, when these splendid birds were 

 openly trained for combat, and cock-fights were held in every village and town throughout 

 the kingdom. The law has rightly prohibited this savage amusement, and cock-fighting 

 like dog-fighting is now confined to a small and continually decreasing knot of sportino- 

 men. For this purpose, the birds are trained in the most regular and scientific manner, 

 as great pains being taken about them as about a race-horse on the eve of the Derby. In 

 order to deprive the antagonist of the advantage which it would gain by pecking the 

 comb, which is very tender and bleeds freely, the comb was cut off and the horny spurs 

 were replaced with steel weapons, long, sharp-edged and pointed. These precautions were, 

 after all, not so barbarous as they seem on a first view, for the comb was " dubbed " at so 

 early an age that its growth was prevented rather than its substance mangled, and the 

 substitution of metal for horny spurs served to set the combatants on more equal terms, 

 just as a sword sets a small man on an equality with a large one. Irrespective of these 

 advantages, the Game-cock is an hereditary gladiator, delighting in combat and instinctively 

 practising the art of defence as well as that of assault. So superior is it to the ordinary 

 breeds in these respects, that I have seen a little old one-eyed Game-cock cut down, as if 

 with a sword, a great swaggering barn-door cock that looked as if it could have killed its 

 puny antagonist with a blow and eaten him afterwards. 



There seems to be no limits to the courage of the Game-cock, which will attack not 

 only his own kind, but any other creature that may offend it. One of these birds has 

 been known to fly at a fox that was carrying off one of his wives, and to drive his spur 

 deep into the oifender's eyes. There are instances innumerable of similar rescues from 

 cats, rats, and other marauders. Sometimes, however, the Game-cock takes upon himself 

 to defend certain localities, and then often becomes dangerous. One such bird, of whose 

 ferocity I have often had personal proof, was accustomed to parade, with the air of an 

 emperor, the yard in which he was necessarily confined, and would fly at every living 

 being that came within the prohibited precinct. A besom was kept by the door and 

 always used by every one who passed through the yard, for the purpose of repelling the 

 attacks of this savage bird. Many a time have I tried to tire him out, knocking him 

 over with the broom, or pushing him back against the wall, but I was always tired first, 

 and had to vacate the premises, leaving him to get on a water-butt and crow forth liis 

 triumph. Sometimes he would slip past the broom, and then the stroke of his spur was 

 no trifle, feeling like the blow of a stone thrown by a strong arm, and leaving a black- 

 and-blue mark for days afterwards. 



The flesh of the Game breed is very excellent, but they are troublesome birds to keep, 

 the males always fighting among each other, and having to be separated before they are 

 fully grown. Crosses with the Game breed are common. 



Just below the game bird is seen an odd-looking fowl, with a head so covered with a 

 monstrous plume of drooping feathers that its features are not more discernible than 

 those of a skye-terrier under his thick hair. This wealth of cranial plumage seems, 

 however, to impoverish the brain, for the large-crested Polish fowls are generally stupid 

 birds, and apt to meet with accidents which might easily be avoided. 



On the opposite side of the plate is the Spanish fowl, a very fine variety, glossy black, 

 with a very large comb, and notable for the white naked skin below the ear. It is a very 

 large breed, coming next in size to the Cochin China, and very far surpasses that large 

 but uncouth bird in the symmetry of its form. The flesh of this breed is excellent, and as 

 the hens are regular layers, these birds are deservedly favourites among poultry owners. 



On the foreground of the plate are some examples of those birds whose many 

 excellencies have rendered a town famous. These are the Dorking Fowls, short-legged, 

 round-bodied, plump-fleshed, and remarkable for having at least one, and sometimes two 

 supplementary toes. These useful birds are mostly to be found in Surrey and Kent, the 

 northern and marshy districts not suiting them. The Dorking Fowls are excellent for the 

 table, their flesh being peculiarly plump and white, and the hens are remarkably prolific 

 layers. 



Lastly comes the odd, quaint, opmiated little Bantam, with its feathered legs, full 

 breast, and bold fearless carriage. This minikin member of the poultry tribe is, despite 



