British Game (Old Style). 
249 
" I was invited some time ago to witness a cock-fight. I went in some trepidation, fearing a gory 
spectacle, but I came away convinced that there had been a sentimental exaggeration of the cruelties of the 
sport. The birds entered into the fight with vast spirit. As an example of pluck there is, probably, nothing 
in the world to equal it. The birds fight as if no such word as ' yield ' existed in their vocabulary. They 
attack, and dodge, and feint with real science. Flying at one another, they attack on the top of the head, 
and get hold. The heart blow is the great blow. Many birds have an unfortunate knack of striking too 
high, or at the other's head. The bird most in favour is the one striking low, and is an adept at bringing off 
the heart blow. 
" Cock-fighting has always been a high-class sport. Barring, of course, that form of the sport which 
finds favour amongst the Northern miners, the ' rough ' element is never present at a fight. In fact, it is a 
matter of great difficulty to obtain an invitation. The only persons allowed to invite people are the two 
signatories to the articles of agreement, and everybody at the pit-side has to go through a minute and careful 
examination, and his bona fides vouched for by the master of the match. Perhaps it would be as well, in 
concluding this article, to recall the observation of one of the greatest sportsmen of modern days — Admiral 
Rous— on cock-fighting. In writing to the Times, when the question of the suppression of the sport was 
before the House of Commons, the Admiral asked, with a good deal of force, which was the noblest destiny 
for a Game cock — to spend his days in idle ease, and die an inglorious death for the table, or to perish in the 
pit, making a brave stand against his enemies." 
■* General Ch.vracteristics. 
COCK. 
Beak. — Big, crooked, hawk-like, pointed, rather short, a long beak (especially underneath) lacks holding 
power ; Eye, large, fearless, bold, quick, and fiery ; Head, small and tapered, with throat and skin of fine 
quality, loose and flexible; a small throat and tight skin cause difficulty in breathing when in violent exercise; 
Neck, large-boned, round, strong, and of fair length ; Back, short, broad across the shoulders, and tapering 
towards the tail ; Breast, broad, straight, full, and prominent, the pectoral muscles being well developed, 
giving great power to the wings ; Wings, large and long ; Quills, powerful and strong ; Tail, large and well 
spread ; Belly, small and tight ; Thighs, very short, round, and muscular ; Legs, strong, clean-boned, not 
round or gummy like other fowls, nor too upright, nor too wide apart, but parallel with the body, well bent 
at the hocks (this feature is most important) ; Spurs, small, strong, and pointed, set low down ; Feet, flat, 
thin, long, well spread, and tapering ; Toes and Nails, the hind toe to extend well backward and flat on the 
ground, not twisted sideways or duck-footed ; Plumage, the feathers strong, hard, close, sound, glossy, and 
sufficient ; Carriage, bold, smart, each movement quick and graceful, proud and sprightly, as if ready for any 
emergency ; Handling, clever ; Flesh, firm, but corky and light, mellow and warm, with strong contraction of 
wings and legs. 
The hen should resemble the cock at all points, making allowance for difference in sex; she 
should be wide on the back, short-legged, have a small, straight, and perfectly erect comb, well-serrated, 
small wattles, and ear-lobes of fine texture ; be strong, yet clean and blood-like, in legs and feet ; strong 
beak, well curved ; short, wide body, her wings clipping her body tightly, and the ends almost meeting 
beneath her tail. Her movements should be quick and alert, and she should have a neat and gamey 
appearance, and if spurred so much the better. She should match the cock in beak, eyes, legs, and feet, 
and carry a fairly large tail, well spread out. 
The Colours of Old Style British Game, as now recognised in the Show pen, are Black-Breasted Reds 
with white legs, Black-Breasted Reds with yellow legs, Black-Breasted Reds with dark, willow, or carp legs ; 
the true Black-Reds, Black-Breasted Dark-Reds, Streaky-Breasted Ginger-Reds, Brown-Breasted Brown-Reds, 
Black-Breasted Dark-Greys, Mealy-Breasted Mealy-Greys, Black-Breasted Birchen-Duckwings, Black-Breasted 
• Old English Game Fowl, by Herbert Atkinson. 
