COCKER S MANUAL. 93 



to know assert that a pure Derby cock was never sent to America. You 

 might as well have asked the Earl for a church living as one of his 

 brood stock ; it would have been the least favor of the two. Some 

 twenty years since we applied to Old Roscoe (who had charge of the 

 cocks as his father had before him) for some of the breed, being some 

 eighteen years after the Earl had fought his last main, and all that 

 Roscoe could then find of the pure breed was some half dozen, and 

 he was most anxious to get them for us as we were an intimate friend 

 of his. I am aware this assertion will not be credited with you, but I 

 would take long odds that one-half dozen real Derby's were never 

 sent to America, if it could be proved, but those that know best in 

 this country will quite endorse my opinion. Scores of half-breeds 

 that amswer to feather, marking, size, etc., have been sent there as 

 Derbys, as well as hundreds that have been sold and are kept here as 

 such. It has been proven that the white-legged black-reds were bred 

 in this country hundreds of years before the Earl was born ; therefore 

 their origin cannot be claimed to have originated with him as he only 

 kept a variety of them. His fowls were chiefly black-breasted reds, 

 white legs and a white streamer in the tail and flight feathers, although 

 at a late day he fought a strain of gray cocks, which were extra good 

 ones. 



SEFTONS. 



This is also another breed of English fowls, but have long been 

 known in this country. They were never so noted as the Derbys and 

 never, as claimed by some, the principal contestants of the Earl's 

 fowls. The originals generally bred ginger-reds with green and yel- 

 low legs, and are of good size, well shaped and strongly built, with 

 large bone and muscle, and are still a much coveted fowl in certain 

 quarters, and are sought after by many cockers who have been for- 

 tunate with them. 



IRISH DARE-DEVILS. 



.This is one of the largest and best of the Irish varieties. They are, 

 in our opinion, the best class of fowls ever imported for general use. 

 In color a black-breasted red with yellow legs and red eyes. The 

 hens are buff, with yellow legs. This breed has made its mark, are 

 good fighters and dead game. They are greatly in demand, owing to 



