3c8 
The Illustrated Book cf Poultry. 
having so much by which to take hold, as the Game cock fights with his spurs , and usually requires 
a hold with the beak to strike a deadly blow. The natural spurs were sawn off to about half an 
inch long, and over the stumps were affixed by hollow sockets artificial and more deadly weapons 
of steel or silver. These varied in length from one and a quarter to about three inches. We must 
in fairness concede that to describe metal spurs as cruelty is simply a mistake ; on the contrary, 
they actually lessened — because they shortened — the sufferings of the combatants ; though there 
is little doubt that individual blows are more sharply felt, since it is constantly found that cocks 
which will fight unflinchingly in their natural condition “ will not stand steel ; ” and even some 
which will fight well thus, flinch under a long battle in silver. Hence it is probable that to enhance 
the “ effect ” of the courage of the birds was the original cause of their being thus armed with 
metal weapons, which were gradually brought to perfection by ingenuity, observation, and long 
practice, by which the most advantageous curves and other details were gradually discovered. 
Besides silver spurs, spurs were also made of steel, plated with silver ; but neither of these gave 
such wounds as the steel spurs. Some spur-makers became much celebrated for the excellence 
and toughness of their productions, as well as the trueness of their curves, which last were obtained 
by mathematical calculation. The force with which a Game cock strikes is fearful, and none 
but the most exquisite temper of metal will stand the strain. 
Various kinds of “ mains ” were fought, into all the details of which we need not enter. The 
ordinary or “short” main consisted of twenty-one pairs of cocks, which were fought for so much 
per battle, and so much the odd battle, or main. Sometimes sixty-one pairs were fought, which 
was called a long main. There was always an odd battle, to prevent the contingency of a “draw,” 
but sometimes this happened by the odd battle itself being drawn (as by both cocks being struck 
dead at the same moment), and on one occasion, at Edinburgh, a “long” main was fought which 
lasted twelve days, and was finally drawn. The severest test of all was considered to be the Welsh 
main. In this sixteen cocks were first fought in pairs, then the eight winners were fought in four 
pairs, next the four winners in two pairs, and finally the two winners fought for the main ; so that 
the ultimate conqueror had to fight four consecutive battles. The “ battle-royal ” has become 
almost a proverbial expression. In this mode of fighting each man tossed in his cock ; there was a 
general fight, and the last living cock won all the money staked. In all regular mains, the nearest 
weights were matched together. There were other modes of fighting which we need not occupy 
space in describing. 
The rules of cock-fighting we shall not give in detail. We have already said that in England 
the Westminster Rules are in force ; in America there are various rules, such as the New York Rules, 
the Boston Union Club Rules, the Southern Rules, &c. ; but fighting is more usually conducted under 
the New York Rules. These go more into detail, and in some respects differ considerably from the 
English Rules; the size of the pit, the position of the score-lines in centre of it, &c., being all laid 
down; but we need not state more than that at a revision of the New York Rules, made very 
recently (we believe in 1872), it was enacted that spurs should in future be uniformly one and 
a quarter inches in length. The effect of this provision, though apparently merciful to a thoughtless 
reader, is simply to prolong the battle by lessening the fatal character of the wounds, and thus 
really adds to the torture of the birds. We will only add that by all the rules we have seen, regular 
legal provision is made for birds being struck blind ; and what is to be done in such cases is clearly 
laid down. Cocks, also, which have lost one eye in previous fighting (usually termed “ blinkers ”) 
are provided for, and allowed certain advantages, which are supposed to counterbalance the 
defect in sight. 
It may be urged, and truly so, that other sports are cruel ; and we have little respect for the 
