CONCERNING COCK-FIQETING. 171 



popularity declined to any great extent. About 

 Easter-time, assemblages of surreptitious cock- 

 fighters are still pounced on by the police ; and 

 a certain class of the community sticks to 

 this cruel sport in spite of all the efforts of the 

 law to suppress it. 



Cock-fighting in this country is mostly con- 

 fined to the North— to the quiet spots among 

 the hills where the chances of molestation are 

 small. The pleasure to be derived from a Main 

 of Cocks appeals to a wider elass of the com- 

 munity than is generally supposed. Among the 

 upholders of the sport are farmers, magistrates, 

 and yeomen. But these can point to famous 

 modern patrons who were their immediate pre- 

 decessors. 



When he lived at Elleray, " Christopher 

 North " was wont to carry a game-cock under 

 his arm in his walks abroad, ready to pit 

 against that of any of his neighbours. It is 

 even reported upon trustworthy evidence that 

 the Professor indulged the pastime in his draw- 

 ing-room on Sunday afternoon. Of course he 

 himself does not tell us these things, but those 

 who have read his life by his daughter, will 

 remember frequent entries in his diary. Thus : 



