to spar in public, in order to prevent any shyness. Contrary to our laws, the owner is allowed to take up and handle his Cock during the battle; to clear his eye of a feather, or his mouth of blood. When a Cock is killed, or runs, the other must have sufficient spirit and vigour left to peck at him three times, on his being held to him for that purpose, or it becomes a drawn battle; and sometimes an experienced cocker will place the head of his vanquished bird in such an uncouth posture, as to terrify the other, and render him unable to give this proof of victory. The Cocks are never trimmed, but matched in full feather. The artificial spur used in Sumatra, resembles in shape the blade of a scimetar, and proves a more destructive weapon than the European spur. It has no socket, but is tied to the leg, and in the position of it the nicety of the match is regulated. As in horse-racing, weight is proportioned to inches, so in cocking, a bird of superior size and weight, is brought to an equality with his adversary, by fixing the steel spur so many scales of the leg above the natural spur, and thus obliging him to fight with a degree of disadvantage. It rarely happens that both Cocks survive the combat.

"In the northern parts of the island, where gold-dust is the common medium of gambling, as well as of trade, so much is accidentally dropped in weighing and delivering, that at some cock-pits, where the resort of people is great, the sweepings are said, probably with exaggeration, to be worth upwards of a thousand dollars per annum to the owner of the ground; beside his profit of two fanams (fivepence) for each battle.

"In some places they match quails, in the manner of Cocks. These fight with great inveteracy, and endeavour to seize each other by the tongue. The Achenese bring also into combat the dial-bird (moori) which resembles a small magpie, but has an agreeable, though imperfect note. They sometimes engage one another on the wing, and drop to the ground in the struggle."-Marsden's History of Sumatra, pp. 236-8. London, 1783.

This extraordinary account is not without the confirmation which it needs :

"The Indians (of Manilla) in common with all Malays, are passionately fond of Cock-fighting, but they are not permitted to indulge at pleasure this inclination. An Indian rarely walks out without a Cock, and as soon as he meets another Indian with one under his arm, the two birds are set down, and immediately engage; but battles with steel spurs are only permitted in a place formed for the purpose, which is farmed from the king at a rent of twenty or twenty-five thousand dollars: here the Indians assemble, and frequently bet on their favourite Cocks the whole of what they are worth. The fate of the gamesters is soon decided, for the Cocks being armed with sharp spurs, one or the other is killed almost in an instant.". De Guigne's Observations on the Philippine Islands.

But abstinence from Cock-fighting sometimes meets with its reward.

"The fort (at Achin) was but sorrily governed when I was there; nor was there that care taken to keep a fair correspondence with the natives in the neighbourhood as I think ought to be, in all trading places especially. When I came thither there were two neighbouring Rajas in the stocks, for no other reason, but because they had not brought down to the fort such a quantity of pepper as the governor had sent for. Yet these Rajas rule in the country, and have a considerable number of subjects, who were so exasperated at these insolences, that, as I have since been informed, they came down and assaulted the fort, under the conduct of one of these Rajas. But the fort, as bad as it is, is guard enough against such indifferent soldiers as they are: who, though they have courage enough, yet scarce any arms besides back-swords, cressets, and lances, nor skill to use artillery if they had it. At another time they made an attempt to surprise the fort, under pretence of a Cock-match; to which they hoped the garrison would come out, to share in the sport, and so the fort left with small defence. For the Malayans

here are great lovers of Cock-fighting, and there were about 1000 of them got together about this match, while their armed men lay in ambush. But it so happened that none of the garrison went out to the Cock-match, but one John Necklin, a Dane, who was a great gamester himself; and he discovering the ambush, gave notice of it to the governor, who was in disorder enough upon their approach; but a few of the great guns drove them away." -Mr. Dampier's Voyages, vol. ii. (Supplement). London, MDCC. p. 184.

Not wishing, therefore, to stimulate our youth to Cockfighting, any more than we would lead them to oversensitive refinement or spurious humanity, we will give no further directions about the rearing of Game-chicks, (although it would be very easy to do so) than to state that instead of allotting twenty-four Hens to one Cock, in a "ward" too, as has been currently published and believed to be a good plan, one Cock, with two, or at most three Hens, should be quietly located at large in some spot where they are secure from giving or receiving interruption. The Cockerels three-quarters grown (an example to our lads) are not permitted to run as they choose with any society that may offer, but are withdrawn to quiet, rural, airy, grassy walks, where they are encouraged to scratch the ground as much as they like, to increase their means of livelihood, and are removed from the temptation (the possibility indeed) of having any but the most discreet female society. Cocks so educated are valuable for better purposes than for fighting and being betted upon. They become first-rate fathers of families. If a stock of Poultry is flagging and degenerate, the owner hardly knows why, the admission of a good Game Cock will soon set all to rights. His very look and air inspire health and cheerfulness into the dispirited Hens. He fertilises the eggs of every variety of Domestic Fowl, from the little Black Bantam to the portly Dorking. The issue of such crosses does not always resemble either parent, but it is sure to be something pretty, useful, and

thrifty. "Bad the crow, bad the egg," какоũ кóρакOS κακὸν ὠὸν. Vice versa, good the Cock, good the chick; there is certainly something in breeding.

The males of almost every variety are lovely creatures, though tastes differ as to the preference. They do not attain their perfect plumage till their third year, and perhaps increase in beauty for a year or two afterwards. I think I have heard that according to the modern rules of the Pit, birds are not admissible after they have attained a certain age and weight. But all this is nothing to us. We are looking after ornamental, and incidentally, useful qualities. The red birds, so called, are mostly splendid and dashing in their appearance; the yellowlegged tribe are very gaudy, bright, and strongly contrasted, though apt to be a little under-sized; the duck-winged greys, so called from their iridescent wing-coverts, which remind one of the speculum in a Duck's wing, are most harmoniously coloured, softly yet brilliantly tinted, and only not sufficiently rare to be admired with enthusiasm.

As before observed, it is not our present task to enter into the minute distinctions of Game Fowls. An industrious examination of them with good opportunities, might lead to very interesting conclusions. Meanwhile, we will print one valuable and original record, as a commencement.

"There are evidently two varieties of the Game Fowl, if not more. (Assuredly.) The first, occasionally seen in the yard of the farmer, is a bird over the average size, and rather heavily formed; rather too much comb; breast quite black; neck, back, and wings of a very deep red, tail glossy green. The Hen plain brown, with a lighter coloured neck, sometimes a little streaked with ochre; legs light coloured, or white.

"The other variety, which I much prefer, and now possess, is a smaller Fowl, of a peculiarly light and elegant make; head very small and fine; neck, light orange-red; breast, richly spotted, as are also, in a degree, the wings; back, very rich red; tail, glossy greenish

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black; legs, dark. Hens, brown of various shades, the feathers being streaked with pale ochre down the middle, the same as Pheasants; comb, in the Cocks, very small, and not large in the Hens.

"These are most high-spirited birds, and will soon gain the ascendancy of any yard. The eggs are slightly tinged with yellow buff, rather small, and long in shape. Hens, good layers and sitters. Chicks, when first hatched, exceedingly pretty, being marked with a deep brown streak on the head and neck, that continues down the back. They are hardy little things and easy to rear. How many degrees removed from the Pheasant this breed may be, is difficult to say (they are as widely removed as the North from the South Pole, or Dogs from Cats, as far as relationship is concerned), but there is evidently a strong family likeness. (True, if we regard natural affinity merely). The Pheasants here have no objection, at any time, to an occasional admixture (socially, we believe, not amatively) with the Domestic Poultry, I imagine: and the parties will often meet in our shrubberies, to partake of the berries of the Symphonia racemosa, or Snowberry, of which they are both excessively fond, and will often jump up to some heighth to procure them. This breed of the Game Fowl we have found excellent and highflavoured.

"Some years since I had a Game Hen sitting in a cow-crib, with the usual quantity of eggs. Long before any chicks could be making their appearance, I several times noticed some living thing run from under the Hen on taking her up. This I afterwards discovered to be a fine mouse, that repaired there for the warmth every day; and it was a curious sight on the day the chicks came out, to see it nestling among them, the Hen looking on most complacently. She was, however, very savage to human-kind, and would peck your hand severely if put into the nest.

"But Poultry, in general, enjoy mouse-catching, and will often, when a rick is taking in, watch for and seize