﻿PHEASANT. 701 



only it differs from the reft, and is in chief ufe for the fport 

 called Cock-fighting *. For this it is ufual, before the battle, fo to 

 mutilate the plumage, as to render the creature unknown to thofe 

 who have feen it only in its perfect ftate. The intention of thus 

 trimming the bird, as it is called, is both to render it lighter, and 

 confequently more active in itfelf, as well as to give lefs advan- 

 tage of hold in its antagonift. 



Great care is taken of the breed, as well as the after feeding, 

 by the promoters of this fport, as is done by the gentlemen of 

 the turf, in refpect to their running-horfes. 



The game-cocks of England -\ are confeffedly fuperior to thofe of 

 any other nation. The fighting of them has been praftifed here, 

 in a greater or lefs degree, ever fince the Romans \ firft intro- 

 duced it. In fome reigns || endeavours have been made to fup- 

 prefs it, while in others full fan&ion hzs been given, by erecting 

 a theatre § for the accommodation of the fpectators. 



We find likewife, that nations far diftant from us are fond of 

 it j being ufed as a paftime in China, and many parts oi India**. 



In 



* See a curious memoir on this fubjeft by Mr. Pegge, in Archxol. vol. iiii 

 N° 19. 



f Coq d'Angleterre, Brif. orn. i. p. 171. — Buf. oif. ii. p. 120. — Frifch. t. 

 129. 130.— — Le Coq d'Angleterre eft fuperieur a celui de France pour le com- 

 bat. — Hifl. des oif. 



X The original inftitution is faid to be Grecian. — ArchreoV. 



|| Edward the Third difapproved, and prohibited cock-fighting. Oliver Crom- 

 well did' the fame in 1654. 



§ The Cockpit at Whitehall, founded by Henry the Eighth. King James the 

 Firft was remarkably fond of ccck-fighting. 



** Sonnerat obferves, that there are two races of Cocks in India ; the one kepE 1 

 about their houfes merely for curiofity (as the inhabitants-do not eatflejb) ; the 



other 



