46 



with the outside of the hock, in the same direction as the natural 

 spur; if too far towards the outside the blows would be ineffectual, 

 while if set too far in, it would cause the cock to cut his own throat. 

 The spurs required to be padded firm at the socket, and tied on so 

 tightly as not to move (since if they came off in the fight they were 

 not allowed to be replaced), at the same time if too tight they would 

 cramp the cock. 



In breeding birds for the pit several points had to be attended 

 to ; courage, of course, was of the greatest importance to fight to 

 the death, but this alone was useless, unless the cook was a good 

 heeler; the piles and some other breeds were noted for having 

 deadly heels. The cocks also required to have good mouths, for 

 although they should not take hold with the beak early in the battle, 

 when they are a little weary, it enabled them to give strength to 

 the blow. Another requisite was that they should " come to every 

 point," that is that they should take hold and strike at any part of 

 thsir opponent within reach, be it wing, tail, or any part ; a hasty 

 manner of fighting sometimes denotes a want of bottom or game- 

 ness. Shifty cocks, although they sometimes won, were not 

 admired ; the action in fighting should be rapid without hurrying, 

 quick, but cautious and wary, to break well with his adversary, that 

 is to parry or ward off the blow, and then hit ; since when they both 

 hit together a thigh or wing is often broken. A cock should always 

 press his opponent when he has the advantage, never letting him 

 rise when he has him down. 



Cocks varied much in weight in proportion to their size, some 

 being heavy-fleshed, and their bones solid and heavy ; while others, 

 even larger, weighed much less from having lighter quality of bone, 

 and being more corky and light in flesh, and these were generally 

 preferred for matches, most cockers thinking a big cock to his 

 weight desirable. 



The cock must have been allowed to run as master for sometime 

 previous to fighting ; and a good walk where he obtained plenty of 

 exercise and could not be annoyed by other fowls was required, with 

 not too many hens. Previous to fighting he was placed under the 

 care of tbe " Feeder," in order to get him in the best possible train- 

 ing and condition, as is now the case with human athletes, race- 

 horses, or grey-hounds, and quite as much art and experience are 

 required in the one case as in the other ; and such names as Fisher, 

 Wading, Bromley, Potter, Gilliver, Nash, and Varley, with Parker, 



