PHEASANT. 169 



without end ; are every where seen, and their manners known to 

 every one. It is however, observed, that they breed more freely in the 

 wanner situations, but in the very cold countries, though they will 

 live and thrive, they cease to multiply.* The one meant by the 

 above named authors, seems to have the largest comb of any, with 

 eight or nine serratures ; the bare space round the eyes larger, and 

 the wattles hanging very low down ; the head, neck, back, and 

 wing coverts, orange ; greater wing coverts, quills, and under parts, 

 white ; the long sickle feathers of the tail blue black : and inde- 

 pendent of every other variation, it is very common to see them of 

 a pure white, the combs and wattles excepted. 



At the head of the domestic sort, stands the Game Cock, which 

 is valued on account of its courage, in which point only it differs 

 from the rest, and its chief use is for the sport of Cock-fighting, f 

 For this purpose it is usual, before the combat, so to mutilate the 

 plumage, as to render the creature unknown to those who have seen 

 it only in its perfect state. This trimming of the bird, as it is called, 

 renders it lighter, and more active in itself, and gives less advantage 

 of hold to its antagonist ;J and great care is taken of the breed, as 

 well as after feeding, by the promoters of this sport ; as is done by 

 the gentlemen of the turf, in respect to their running-horses. 



The Game Cocks of England § are confessedly superior to those 

 of any other nation. The training of them to fight, has continued 

 to be practised here, ever since the Romans || first introduced it. In 



* They are not found to breed in the northern parts of Siberia; and in Greenland are 

 only kept as rarities. — Faun. Groenl. 



f See a curious Memoir on this subject by Mr. Pegge. — Archatol. iii. No. 19. p. 132. 



% One sort when thus trimmed, and armed with an artificial spur of steel, is called a 

 Ginger ; another favourite Variety is called a Duck-wing — a sort between the Dun°-hill 

 Cock and Game, is called a Bastard, and is less valued for fighting. 



§ Coq^ d'Angleterre, Bris. Orn. i. 171. Buf.W. 120. Frisch, t. 129. 130. Le Coq 

 d'Angleterre est superieur a celui de France pour le Combat. — Buffbn. 



11 The original institution is said to be Grecian. — Archaol. The Athenians encouraged 

 it.— Mlian. H. Far. lib. ii. ch. 28. 

 vol. viii. Z 



