304 The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 



and deliberately roasted him alive; refusing, with deep and bitter curses,, the entreaties which the 

 poor bird's horrid screams forced even his fellow-sportsmen to urge for a merciful death. These 

 things are not accidents, but the natural outcome of a sport of whose very essence it is— while 

 fastening attention constantly and actually upon animal suffering — to stifle all feelings of pity by the 

 excitement of a feverish contest, or of heavy betting upon the result of it. Hence, it is not only a 

 question as to the amount of actual suffering involved, but the fact has to be considered that in this 

 case that suffering is ever appealing directly to the eye and mind of the "sportsman," and has to 

 be by him deliberately disregarded. The results, in their legitimate development, we have seen, 

 and could readily add other instances of, but it is needless; neither do we care to dwell on proofs 

 of a debased moral sense in other respects often found amongst cock-fighters, further than to give 

 as an instance of what we mean, the fact that it is common in individual matches for each setter to 

 smell and taste the hackles of his opponent's bird, carefully look under the wing, &c., lest perchance 

 some powder to blind or stupefy his own bird should have been dusted amongst the plumage. 

 Surely the considerations we have already urged need no addition to make any honourable man or 

 real lover of fowls pause, before he again lends the sanction even of his presence to a pursuit whose 

 character and tendency we have thus briefly endeavoured to describe. To have said even so much, 

 or to have argued seriously against cock-fighting at all, will by many be thought needless, 

 considering how tabooed it is already as a general diversion ; it may seem like killing again the 

 already slain, and were this a work of mere general interest it would truly be so. But as it is 

 amongst Game and other poultry-fanciers that most of those who still " on the sly" fight cocks are 

 found, and our work appeals more especially to such, we have thought it well to say this much 

 concerning a pastime which was once so truly national as to find a prominent place in " Hoyle's 

 Games," and is still followed in secret to an extent that many people would, even if they were told, 

 refuse to believe. 



It will not be necessary to add much respecting the general qualities of the Game fowl ; 

 though much might be said respecting the prowess of the Game cock, his powers of endurance, 

 or his courage in defending his wives and family. Thus a cock bred in 18 14, by J. II. Hunt, 

 Esq., of Compton Pauncefoot, Somerset, seeing a hen and her brood attacked by a fox, which 

 actually seized and was carrying off the hen, flew at the fox and killed it, of which occurrence 

 a plate was published at the time. Another cock is recorded to have killed a large mastiff; and 

 had we space we could multiply such stories almost ad infinitum. 



The quarrelsome disposition of true-bred Game fowls makes this breed altogether unadapted 

 to the purposes of the ordinary poultry-keeper. The young cock chickens have been known to 

 fight for two whole days consecutively, only leaving off with daylight, and resuming hostilities 

 as soon as there was a glimmer to see by ; and this disposition is sadly in the way of many who 

 would otherwise be glad to keep them. Their light and active grace, the singular beauty of colour 

 their free step and undaunted spirit, always secure admirers ; and at most poultry-shows the Game 

 classes are the most thronged of any. Many of the hens are excellent layers, averaging as high 

 as 200 eggs per annum on a good range ; but other varieties fall far short of this. All Game fowls, 

 however, if killed moderately young, are the choicest eating possible. They will not bear 

 fattening ; but if taken up just as they are, after good feeding, are almost like the pheasant m 

 quality of flesh. Merely as a table fowl, the larger strains of hen-feathered Game would be 

 preferable, as cocks may easily be bred reaching nearly eight pounds, and by breeding young 

 birds together the highest quality of meat may be obtained ; but the want of the sweeping 

 sickles sadly detracts from their beauty in most eyes. All Game fowls are very deceiving as to 

 the weight of meat they carry. Compared with most other poultry they look small ; but on taking 



