140 
THE POULTRY LOOET. 
acquired their full size and development, which occurs about the same time that 
the birds get their perfect male plumage. The bird should he held by an assistant, 
and as the comb offers a good hold, it should not he taken off until after the 
wattles are removed. The head being turned over and held by the comb, these 
should be cut away with a pair of sharp scissors, those which are made of a slightly 
curved form for trimming the feet of horses being by far the most convenient in 
use. The cut should commence at the hack, and come forward to the front of 
the head. During the operation, the wattle that is being cut off should not he 
pulled ; if it is, a jagged, irregular cut results. When the two are successively 
taken off as recommended, two long straight cuts are produced and a narrow strip 
of skin is left along the centre of the under jaw ; this strip it is most important to 
preserve, for if it be cut away the throat is hared at its under part, and a large 
portion becomes exposed ; this heals over with slowness, and an irregular, uneven 
surface is the result. Some persons prefer to dissect off the wattles with the points 
of the scissors in preference to removing them with one cut. 
After the removal of the wattles, the bird should he turned over, and the 
scissors placed at the hack of the comb, as close as possible to the head. They 
should then he closed and the comb cut away with one smooth, steady cut towards 
the point of the beak. Less than two minutes in skilful hands will finish the 
operation, and the cock will instantly proceed to eat as if nothing had happened ; 
in fact we have seen birds pick up and devour their own wattles immediately on 
being placed on the ground. It is neither necessary nor desirable to make any 
application to the wounds made by the operation of dubbing. 
When the scars, left by the removal of the wattles, have fallen off, the deaf ears, 
or ear-lobes, should be taken off ; this should also be done with a single clean 
cut of the sharp scissors, great care being taken to include as much of the ear- 
lobe as possible, without injuring the orifice of the ears. If these operations have 
been skilfully performed, there will he hut little trimming required afterwards, 
and as soon as the wounds are healed, the elegant snake-like head and neck of the 
animal are shown in their full beauty. 
A treatise on Game fowls could hardty he regarded as complete without some 
allusion to the practices which have rendered this breed so truly celebrated. Cock- 
fighting has been an institution that has been viewed with favour by a very large 
portion of the human race from time immemorial. At the present period its 
practice in Great Britain is illegal; although on what ground other and far 
crueller sports should he allowed and positively encouraged by all ranks from the 
prince to the peasant, and this suppressed, it would puzzle a casuist to explain. 
In all animals that associate together in flocks or herds, consisting of one male 
and several females, the males are provided with horns, spurs, or some other 
deadly weapons, by which the strongest male destroys or drives away the weaker, 
and so perpetuates the most vigorous and perfect race. These animals are all 
endowed with a great amount of comhativeness and courage, and fight, whenever 
