49 



above were some of the rules and regulations required in the sport 

 of matches. However there were various kinds. 



A cock previous to fighting was " cut out of feather,'' i.e., his 

 hackle trimmed short, the sickle feathers all cut from the tail, 

 leaving only the fan or straight tail feathers, which were shortened 

 about half ; the ends of the flight feathers cut off, the ends of the 

 long saddle feathers, and the feathers round the vent and belly cut 

 close ; the artificial spurs being then tied on the bird was ready for 

 action. It is almost needless to say that throughout their training 

 cocks were kept scrupulously clean, with fresh straw in their pens, 

 their beaks and feet washed daily and their legs rubbed. The 

 handler required a quick eye and hand and a steady head, to take in 

 and make the most of every chance in the battle. 



Of mains the most usual was the short main, i.e., to show, 

 weigh and fight (say) tweiity-one cocks on each side ; the stakes 

 being so much each battle and so much on the odd battle or main, 

 an odd number being always provided to prevent the contingency 

 of a draw — which sometimes, however, happened (in the last 

 battle both cocks have been struck dead at the same time). At the 

 Cockpit Eoyal at Westminster sixty-three pairs were usually 

 shown. They were weighed three days previous to fighting ; the 

 colour of breast, eyes, beak and legs taken, as well as colour of 

 body, and any peculiar or distinctive marks they might have, to 

 prevent the possibility of their being changed in the match. All 

 that weighed within one ounce of each other were matched and 

 divided into three or six days' play, the lightest pair commencing 

 the fight. This was the long main. 



The Battle Eoyal is proverbial. In this any number of persons 

 stake a certain sum, and each produces one cOck under a given 

 weight, when the cocks are all put in the pit together, the last 

 survivor taking the whole stakes. 



In the "Welsh Main" sixteen cocks are matched in pairs, the 

 nearest weights being matched together ; the eight winners are 

 then fought, and so on. The ultimate winner having to fight four 

 battles. This is the severest trial of all. Immense sums were 

 formerly staked on these mains. Indeed, at one fought at Lincoln, 

 not so very long ago, the stakes were £1,000 each battle and 

 £5,000 on the main (or odd battle). 



At two years old a cock was considered in his prime for fighting, 

 previous to which he was taken up from his walk and handed over 



