THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

PRESENTED BY

PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID

E R R O R tjje Firft.

: Of making Choke of CO C KS for being /k> cefsfuly without any Regard to the Excellen- cy of their Breed.

MONG the great Variety of Crof- fes that are made, I have obferved a particular Sort that is endowed with fuch an excellent Shape and Conftitution, as enables them to do great Execution ; and tho* the Breeder has de- prived them either through Negled or want of Judgment of that Share of Blood which is ne- ; ceflary in all fighting Fowl, yet, by Virtue of thofe other Qualifications, they will beat high bred Cocks, which are wanting in thofe Re- fpecls, that is, fuch as are tainted and withaf deformed ; but fuppofe them to be tainted only, k is fufficient to render them incapable of any great Performance : It would be endlefs as well as tedious to the Reader was I to enumerate a

B tenth

tenth Part of the Psrfons, which have come \vithin my Knowledge, that have iuffered by this Practice, therefore, I hope, an Inftance will not he thought amifs to detect the Folly of it.

JVilkins of Grantham, deceafed, was known by moft of the Lincoln/hire Sportfmen to be a very great Cocker, and more particularly famed for his 'Plimouths and Buttons *, the former of which was bred from a Cock of Lord ?//- mouth's, which came out of the Duke of Rut" land's Pens, when his Grace fought againft Lord -Exeter, the latter from a Strain of Colonel Lefa by the Cock, and out of the Hen of Mr He- neag&s^ yet WtLkins could not content himfelf with his own, but fuffered his Though rs, like a great many others, to wander after Cqnquefts made in various Parts of the Country, thinking thereby to meet with fomething fuperior to thole he had already got, whereas, had he been content with making the beft of his own, no Fowls in England could have beat them.

It happened at a certain Cocking in the Neigh- bourhood that one more particular than all the reft came off with great Honour, by beating his Adverlary after a handfome eafy Manner, which gain'd IPilkmss Favour fo much as to put him upon intreating for a frelh Brother of him to breed from, which he effefted, and bred out of two Years together, without making Trial of the firft Year's Product, except one fhatter'd Stagg, which proved very indifferent ; but not meeting with a terrible Cock againft him, he refign'd his Life without running away : That

not

( » )

not being a fufficient Trial, Wilkins ftill repoied a Confidence in them that they would be veryi/y^ good when they became Cocks, which he made/-//;. Trial of very early the next Seafon, when to his great Surprize found them to fly the Pitt a great deal too foon • in the fame Seafon alfo he fought the Old Cock, which was then three Years old, and behaved fo well as to gain the general Applaufe of the Pitt, by beating two very good Cocks in few Meetings each : This Performance in the Old Cock, together with the good Opinion, upon fufficient Proof, he had of the Hens, revived his'Hopes again, that the re- maining Part of them would prove better, he therefore referved them for Mr Chum ley's Main, againft Mr Turner, who was a {lifted by Mr fj&eage, but being of a larger Size than com- mon, very few of them fell into the Match, and thole that did were beat by Mr Heneage^ which tho* they were double fed, were undenia- ble Cocks, and made the other appear very bad in Comparifon of them : Now had thefe Fowls of Wilkins §, which were called llre£s Greys^ fought againft fuch as were no higher bred than themfelves, or other ways againft fuch as were ibmething tainted, they might have got a Cha- racter, as Thoufands have done before, without any Reafon; and tho' they had nought to boaft of except Shape and a Perfect Conftitution, yet if they find themielves too powerful for their Adverfary, they will difpatch in fuch a Man- ner as to deceive Men of tolerable good Judg- ment • yet Wilkins could not be fatisfy'd where

B 2 this

this Taint proceeded from, or whether to blame the Cock or the Hens for it, till he fought him again, which was then four Years old, and pro- ved the vileft Rogue that ever was bred for a Game Cock ; now, had this old Cock died, or happened any Misfortune, fo as to have hindered him from fighting again, the Hens would have been condemn'd very innocently : This Pradice of being overfeen by the Behaviour of Fowls, without any Certainty, and giving too much Credit to Report, both are built upon fuch weak Foundations, that no one poffibly can con- tinue a good Breed long that bend their Mind either Way.

I have fcen a great many Mains fought which have given a Chara&er to Fowls undefervedly, by beating fuch as were not able to make any Refiftance; either through the want of Condi- tion, Goodnefs, or both ^ and if it ihould hap- pen that both thele Imperfe&ions attended the lofing Side, where is the Applaufe ? where the Honour of winning a Match againft fuch Cocks ? and it is too often from fuch Succefs as this that Cocks get a Character, and deceive the fucceeding Breeder, as not meeting with fuffr» cient Trials.

ERROR

ERROR the Second

Of the Sufficiency of good HENS.

TH E antient Breeders in this Kind of Di- verfion were of Opinion, that a true Game Hen would breed good Fowl even from a Dunghill Cock, whereas a Cock without a Hen equivalent availeth nothing; nay, to this Day this idle Notion is fo predominant, that a great many which I have conversed with, look upon a Hen to be much the iafeft Side, which is more than I ever could bring to Proof through- out the Practice that T have had ; nor do I be- lieve the oldeft and moft experienced Breeder upon Earth can juftify it, and I am very well affured, there cannot be any other Reafon given for it than this, Hens are not io liable to receive a Taint as Cocks are, becaule they are, generally ipeaking, continued at one Place unmolefted, whereas Cocks are harrais'd about and removed frequently from their Places of Breeding, which bring old Age upon them too foon •, and what is it that -has grounded this Notion in People, but meeting withDifappointments of their Expecta- tions in Cocks breeding good Fowl, occaflon'd chiefly by their own Negleft and bad Manage- ment: Suppofe a Cock to have fought, or only to have pone through a regular Courfe of Feeding, itisimpoffiblehefhould produce as good Fowl as the Sifters to him, which have never been dif-

turbed

( 14 )

turbed at all ; thefe and other Reafons there are to be given, why Cocks do noc preferve their Confutations fo long nor fo perfect as Hens do ; but provided one fliares the fame Fate, either of good or bad Management, in every individual Refpect as the other, they are equally as merito- rious, nor is it in the Power of either of them to breed fteady Fowl, without pretty near an e- qual Share of Blood of each Side. I have alrea- dy fhewn that the celebrated Tltmouth Hens of Wilkiris, were incapable of breeding good Fowl with as active and healthful a Cock as I ever faw, and bred for thorough Game ; fo in like Man- ner was Mr Bojlonts old Duck-Wing Hens let down by a Cock that was deficient in Blood, which Hens might juftly be faid to be the high- eft bred Hens upon Earth ; they were got by the renowned Hero the Old Duck-Wing before he fought, and out of Alderman Browns Old half Tlimouth and half Black Joke Hen. In- liances of this Nature arc endlefs, and I believe it is chiefly owing to this Pradice, that tome have got a Notion, breed as you will, there lhall be fuch Difference in Brothers, that fome will be very good, others but indifferent, to which I agree if there be a Want of Blood of ei~ ther Side, and will differ as much in their Na- ture as they frequently do in Feather ; fome will take after the good Kind and be pretty near as good as them, others after the bad, and will partake a very little Share of the good, o- thers upon a Medium ; but if Fowl are tho- rough bred on both Sides, and regularly croft

for

( '5 )

for Generations paft, they will refemble one a- nother in a particnlar Manner, and will be little or no more Difference in them than as an Acci- dent in Fighting, or Condition may occafion.

E K R O R the Third.

Of Breeding out of old Fought COCKS.

TRUTH or Goodnefs muft be allowed to be the beft and moft valuable Qualificati- on belonging to a Game Cock, and what every Breeder fhould endeavour to attain to ; yet the true Way and Method of arriving to it is often- times miftaken, and in a particular Manner, fo by breeding out of old fought Cocks ; nay, fonie are fo fond of this Way of breeding, that they rather chufe to make ufe of one which has been fufficiently cut by Way of Trial, than they would a freflione, and look- upon it as the moft certain Way of breeding, which in my O- pinion is quite the reverie ; for when Nature is almoft worn out and exhaufted either by Time or too frequent Engagements, itisimpofiible the Iffue proceeding from lach Cocks ihould. have much Vigour, Life, or Activity, and this is the Reafon, in a great Meafure, that we meet with fo many idle, flack mettled Cocks, or ra- ther foolhardy, much fitter for a Pot than the Pic j but tho' I am far from advifing any one to

breed

breed from Cocks that have received vifible Damage by fighting, yet I would not totally exclude the Ufe of a dipt Cock, provided he has received no Damage, becaufe fometimes a good Breed is to be attained that Way when no other Means will offer ; for among the Curious there are a great many which never fet a Value upon their Fowl after fighting, even tho' they come off ever fo well ; therefore don't mind giving one away to any diftant Part, where they are not likely to come againft them, when per- haps if a freih Cock was required, fifty Pounds would not purchafe one : Now provided this Cock be of an excellent Kind, which muft be prov'd by feeing a Number of Brothers fuffici- ently tried, not only for their Blood, but alfo for their genteel and regular Way of fighting ; I fay provided this Cock be fuch, I would breed out of him even then for no other End, than to referve Stock to be renewed again, be- caufe it is impoffible a Cock can be cut out of Feather and not receive more or lefs Damage, therefore it will be neceffary to make Choice of a proper Hen in order to repair the Damage he is liable to receive from it, and propagate a healthful and lively Pofterity, fo that I fliall lay old Age afide tho' ever fo good, and chufe out a frefh Pullet or two Years old Hen at the moft, which if I might, fhould be bred from a youthful Strain, becaufe it is not fufficient that you breed from ¥outh only, even tho* it be on both Sidles, if the Fowl they were bred from were either too antient or tainted • but and if there

be

be a Taint, if it is not a very fevere one, indeed it may in a great Meafure be extirpated, by a due Obfervance of Youth for two Generations, or three at the moft. There remains yet another Obfervation that 1 have made, which is, that a Cock will get better Fowl out of Feather, than the Year after when in Feather, and tho' this may feem contrary to Reafon to a great many that have not try'd the Experiment, yet 1 have met with fo many fufficient Proofs of it in my Time, that the IfTue of the former have prov'd exceeding good, and that of the latter quite the reverfe, from the fame Hens ; the Reafons be- ing thefe. -After a Cock has once fought, and re- ceived no Damage by it, and if due Care be ta- ken of him after coming out of warm Pens, and he be bred out of in the Month of /ipnl, fo that the Chickens may come off in May, and put to a young blooming Hen, he will get pretty aftive Fowl, and even then I fhould deem their IfTue unfit for a prefent Engagement for a large Sum of Money, till they were renew- ed once more with Youth and Vigour, and on- ly commend fuch in Comparifon of the fecond Year's Produft, which I will endeavour to ex- plain. All Breeders muft allow, that during the Time of a Cock's being out of Feather, he is li- able to a great many Cafualties and Misfortunes, which render him incapable of fliedding his Fea- thers after a regular Manner and at a proper Time of the Year, which if he does not it is im- poffible he fhould be healthful ; this is upon Suppofition, that a Cock be generated with a

G good

good Conftitution, how liable he is to be de- prived of it in that Interval of Time, but if he has the leaft Taint upon him, or be inclined to grow out of Shape, it is incredible to think \vhata great Alteration a Year will make, after He is cut out of Feather.

ERROR the Fourth.

Of Breeding out of Tainted Fowl, alfo

the bymftowS) and how they proceed.

THIS Folly of breeding out of Fowl which have not a perfect Conftitution, is attended with worfe Confequenccs than the latter I have been treating of, becaufe, as I have before ob- ferv'd, if they are made the beft of they will get pretty aftive Fowl, which is more than I can fay of a tainted Cock ; I am rather of Opinion, that feme Taints are fo deeply radicated, that it will require fome Years to crofs them out, for there is as much Difference and as many De- grees of Taints in Fowl, as there are of Con- fumptions in human Bodies ; fome difcover a natural Taint from being long and loofe feather- ed, having a dejected, melancholy Afpeft, fuch I look upon to receive their Diforder from being bred out of Fowl that are too antient on both Sides, and 'through bad Ufage their Conftituti- ons rather impaired withal, which if they unite,

produce

( 19 )

produce fuch a Taint in their Pofterity as is not worth recovering ; others there are whole Plume is rather ihorter and more gaudy, and is not ea- fily difcover'd if the Breeder or Feeder is not a competent Judge: This Taint may either be na- tural or acquired ; if natural, the Fowl on one Side, if not both, might be youthful, which pro- duc'd it, but through bad Walking, Irregulari- ty of Diet, or getting batter'd, become tainted ; therefore it is not old Age altogether that produ- ces taintedFowlv tho' very liable, becaufe we lee that in other Creatures as well as them, iome are more capable of doing Bufinefs in advanc'd Years than others, which ihouid be in their beft Days and Prime of Life, occafion'd by the dif- ferent Conftitutions of Fowl they are bred from, and Management afterwards.

Others there are which have a Confumptive Taint from Nature, and don't difcover it fo much in long and loofe Feathers, as by having a pale Complexion and thin Meagre Body ; and tho' thele are far from being properly called a rotten Cock, yet the Constitution is fo ve- ry dry, that they will not ftand the Pens without great Detriment, tho' this Taint as often proceeds from bad Ufage as any natural Caufe; as for Inftance, when Staggs are taken up into Pens to be cut, which I hold neceflary becaufe it makes them familiar againft the Time of corning up to feed, yet moft Breeders are apt to keep them up too long, which if they be neglected during that Time, and have not Plenty of frefh Water, as well as proper Food, it will

C z prove

prove very deftructive to thofe which have not good Conftitutions : For as Gravel is the Life of thofe Animals, by Virtue of which they di- geft their Food, they cannot fubfift long with- out it.

Mill Walks are alfo very liable to create a Taint of the like Nature, as being too much expofed for want of Shelter, both to Winter's Cold and Summer's Heat, befides the want of Water in dry Summers; tho' itmuft be allowed, that where the Situation is nigh Inclofure, which generally afford Water, they are good ones.

Having fhewn the moft material Ways that I am capable of how Fowl become tainted, I ftiall obferve from the Whole, that it is much the fafeft Way, as foon as ever a Taint is difco- vered, to deftroy the whole Race of them, un- lefs it be a trifling One, and the Fowl be of an exceeding good Kind indeed by having all o- ther good Qualifications. I doubt not but what I have faid concerning breeding out of fought and tainted Fowl, will meet with fome Objedi- ons by fome Breeders, who may plead, that they have bred very good Fowl from both thefe imperfect Ways, but ftill it is no Contra- diction to what I have faid, becaufe there is no General Rule without fome Exception ; but this I will venture to aver, that if the fame Fowl had been bred out of in their Youth and Prime of Life, the IflTue of them, with equal Feeding and Management, would win twenty Mains fuc- ceffivcly, were they to be decided againft fuch

as

( ax )

as could be bred from them in Old Age, and at that Diiad van Cage, tho' I allow fome Fowl are ib very excellent in their Nature, and retain a good Shape Ib perfectly in Old Age, that they breed to a Miracle, but for want of a Supply of Youth and frefh Blood, will become flack- mettled and fool-hardy in another Generation.

A Defcription of the true GAME-COCK.

IN defcribing the true Game-Cocfc, I fliall fpeak firft of his Shape, which is of fo great Efficacy in Battle, that he cannot properly be faid to be compleat without it, not but there are good Cocks of all Shapes.

A certain celebrated Breeder fays, that a Cock ought to be form'd in Manner like a Sugar- Loaf; which, in my Opinion, is a prepofterous Comparifon, for the Truth of a Cock's Shape confifts in a true Proportion, neither too long, nor too fhort, too broad, nor too flat, too thick backward or forward, or too thin; and tho1 it is allowed by at leaft two-thirds of Breeders, that a Cock cannot be too thin backward, yet I cannot fee that great Advantage in it, and the Queftion is, whether thcfe is not as great a Neceffity for Strength backward as for- ward ? A flat fided Cock, if his Limbs are ftrong and well proportioned, will be very adive, and

hit

hit deep; whereas a Cock that is too broad, un- lefs he has a proper Length with it, is apt to tire and ftrike ihort, efpecially if he has too much Flefh *, therefore a Medium is to be ob- ferved in both, Length is very neceflary if Strength be added to it ; and what I mean by a Cock's being too long, is having a long thin Body, and withal long Legs and Thighs, fuch ought not to fight till three Years old ; for if they fight fooner, tho' they have the Advan- tage of their Adverfary in Height, yet they are wanting in other Parts, where Strength is more required ; but I am far from advifing any one to breed fliort Fowl, nor indeed can they, unlefs from Dwarfs, or elfe at the latter End of the Seafon j for there is more Danger of Fowl being too long than too iliort, if bred early and from youthful Stock. In fine, a Cock ought to be form'd in Manner following ; Firft, He Ihould have a long Beam and well let on* arifing aimoft perpendicular from his Shoulder : Second- ly, The Body ought to be upon a Medium, not long, nor too fhort, and rather deep than fhal- lovv : Thirdly, His Legs ought to be rather long than fhort, efpecially if the Body be ftiffifh, but if on the contrary the Body be long as well as flat, there is a Neceffity for a fhortifli Leg : for, as I have obferved before, Length of Body and Li nibs together will not fuit with a* two Year oTd Cock : Laftly, His Thighs, whatever Shape he is of, fhould be fhort ; for long and weak thigh'd Cocks frequently break it them- fclves, fince long Weapons have been fo Miii-J*

in

C *3 J

in Efteem ; nor can a Cock poffibly be active that has a long Thigh, and, generally fpeaking, long Legs and Thighs go together ; but tho' a Man be ever fo curious, it is a difficult Matter to bring Shape to Perfection as well as other Qualifications, but neverthelefs, we muft endea- vour to come as near it as poffible, and he that judges the beft, doubtlcfs, will meet with the molt Succefs. Some that I am acquainted with have attempted in vain to breed Fowl of a true Shape, and now, like the Fox, think it a trifling Qualification, but Activity ought to be the Stu- dy of every Breeder, and if Strength be added to it, together with a proper Length, it is my Defcription of a true Ihap'd Cock.

Having fhewn, as near as I can, the proper Shape that a true Game-Cock ought to be form- ed with, I fliall next endeavour to fhew the Neceffity of a good Extraction. Moft Breeders are fond of Game, and make it their chief Aim and Study of Breeding, without confulting whether there be Mettle with it or not, or whether they fight in a handfome Manner, or in a proper Place or not, if the Conftitution has net been impair'd by bad Management, or whe- ther they be of an aftive Shape or not ; all thefe Requifites ought to beconfulted, or elfe Breed- ing of Cocks becomes very expenfive : I have known feveral keen Sportlmen contented with mere Game-Fowl for feveral Years, and tho' they could not win above two Fights of them, yet would they not cenfure them fo ftridly as to forfake them, but generally imputed their lofing

to

c 24 ;

to bad Feeding, and it is become very common to condemn the Feeder when it is the Breeder' Fault only ; for if Cocks are good in Natui and quite healthful, they feldom bring Difgrac to the Feeders. I have already Ihewn the Dan- ger of breeding out of Fowl that are tainted in Conftitution, and to fulfil my Defign of defcrib- ing the true Game Cock, obliges me to make uie of the fame Caution with regard to Genealo- gy, that there be no Deficiency in it fo long as Memory can extend, for it is quite a parallel Cafe ; if there be a Taint, whether in their Na- ture or Conftitution, it will clifcover itfelf for two or three Generations, and fometimes to the fourth ; therefore it behoves Breeders to be ftrictly curious whenever they have Occafion for a Crols, to make Choice of fuch as will rather add than diminifli in any of the before-mention'd Particulars ; thus when a Cock is form'd of an a&ive Shape, and full of Youth and Vigour without a Tinfture of bad Blood in his Veins, he may properly be call'd a true Game-Cock, and inflead of having long and tedious Battles, occafion'd by Breakings out of Heat for Want of Strength, thofe will difpatch one or the other in very few Blows, if thoroughly fed and proper- ly weapon'd.

What different Forts there are that excel in thtir reffe&ive Ways of Fighting.

Arious are the Sorts of Cocks which go un- der the Denomination of Game-Fowl,

that

v

t/idt are not worthy of it, yet appear as fuch itt .vhe Eye of thole, who have not Judgment to ^liftinguiih rightly betwixt a true Game-Cock #nd the many different Sorts that in Reality are not fo ; my Defign therefore fliall be, to de- fcribe fuch as are worthy, which confift of three different Sorts, the firft of which I call, the AElive and Ready Fighting Cock, the fecond I term, the Bull-dog Kind, and the third the Artful Fighting Cock; when Fowl are equal- ly fed and of equal Goodnefs, what is it that muft give Succefs but fuperior Activity and Truth of Fighting ; and I have often obferv'd, when Men of Judgment come into a Pit where they are entire Strangers to Fowl, they bet their Money according to the Behaviour of them in Fighting, and when fome think it Odds on one Side, 'tis Six to Four in their Opinion, on the contrary.

This Firft Sort, which I call the ready fighting Cock, if they are in pcrfed: Con- dition, have the Ad vantage of any other, for by breaking in upon a Cock in that furious Man- ner, it fruftrates the Defign of the Adverfary tho' ever Ib well intended, which if purfu'd, as any Cock of Mettle will do, muft beat the beft flow Cock that can be bred, becauie we daily fee, that a Blow is a Battle given at the Begin- ning ; but if this Sort are not: in good Condition, they are much the worft of the three, their faft Fighting then will be of no Service to them, but rather occafion them to tire, and let a flow Cock knock them down at the laft. I have

D fccn

feen many excellent Breeds of this Kind, but I think none are fo worthy of being taken No- tice of as Mr Hencages Dog-Kennels, more par- ticularly the Right Norrils, which were bred from the Old Nonpareil Dog-Kennel Cock, and out of Sir Windfor Hunlock's Hens, which Fowl fought in every Main more or lels againft Lord Exeter ; indeed there was one Main which chiefly confifted of them, beat at Louth, being the iecond Main that was fought, which was ap- parently thrown away by bad Feeding • and I am of Opinion, that if the Feeders had under- taken the contrary Pens, it would have beat a hollow Main in Behalf of Mr Heneage ; the worft Failing belonging to thefe Cocks, was their Want of being a proper Size, which was a great Misfortune.

In the laft Main of the four, tho' it was won by Mr Heneage in great Extremity, having fe- ven Battles to win iucceffively to win the Main, yet there was a great many of the Ri$ht Norrils that fell out of Match, which went im- mediately from thence to Grantham, being for- ty Miles, to affiftMr Turner againft Mr tholm- ley, moft of which fell into Match, and all won except one that prov'd exceeding good, which v/as beat, without any Difgrace to him, by a limit Ey'd Cock, Son of the Old Tlimouth of IVilkniS) and out of thcFavourite^r^V/(--jSr^///^ Hens, which came from an unknown Part of the World.

The Second Sort I am to treat of, is what I call the Bull-dog Kind, and differs as much from

the

the Random fighting Cock, as a Bull-Dog does from a Maftiff; this Sort of Cocks, to aniwer their Defign in Fighting, ought to be furnifh'd with Strength fuitable to it, and fomevvhat of more Bone than the former, for as thp other excells by A&ivity, fo thefe require Strength in a particular Manner, to accomplifh their End : It is obferyable in this Sort of Cocks, that they are never in a Hurry, and feldom known to fpar, but keep their Ground and Hand it fairly Blow for Blow, always coming in a Place where' they are lure to do Execution. Mr Bojlom1^ who I made mention of in the Second Error, . was as fa- mous for his Dttck-tvingsof this exaft Kind, as Mr Hen e age was for his Dog-Kennels, which excel- led differently ; and it may not be amifs to ob-. ferve, that the Sixfcore Guineas which was fought for three Years together at Lincoln, by Subfcription, was won every Year by his Fowl, bat indeed they were Cocks form'd on Purpofe for that Bufinefs, having Strength to go tho- rough with their Battles, aqd a Death Blow en- tail'd upon the Family. . The original Cock, caird by the Name of the Old Duck-wing, he had from Smith of Teter borough, which muft be allowed by all that knew him, to be as fine a Cock as England ever bred : He fought four Years together at Lincoln^ Horfe Races, be- fides other Times ; and in the eighth Year of his Age, almoft blind, and gouty footed, he beat a fine, frelh Cock, in few Blows ; and what was very remarkable in him, he never fought with- out either breaking or bending Sfflifb's Weapons D - almoft

almoft double, he was a Cock of that prodigious Strength.

The Third Sort I am to defcribe is called the Artful Fighting Cock, differing very much from either of the other ; this Sort are always upon their Guard from the firft of their being pitted ; for as foon as ever they have made Trial of their Adverfary, if they find him either too long, or too ftrong for them, they take diredly to a ihort Turn, and never after will let them have a fair Blow at the Face of them ; and as foon as ever they have made a Blow, if it is not effec- tual, ihoot off and clear themfelves from Dan- ger ; thus, by Degrees, one of thofe Cocks will beat fuch as are much heavier and ftronger than themfelves, by fighting after that artful Man- ner, tho' it is a very great Chance to meet with a Breed of the right Sort of thefe, nor did I ever fee any to come up to Wilkins's Tlimouths tfGranthaw. The Advantage of this Way of fighting is very great, for when a Pair of Cocks are of equal Blood and Strength, then fuch Pre- lence of Mind is of very great Service to them; for it is impofiible when a Cock is almoft be- reav'd of Breath, that he can come up to his Mark without taking off to recover himfelf, and one Blow given in full Breath and at full Length, is worth half a Dozen otherways ; for tho* Cocks are ever Ib good Game, or ftrike ever fo hard, it availeth not much if they ftand top near their Adverfary to take Blows, efpe- cially if they come to a long Battle.

H4ving mentioned all the Sorts of Game- Fowl

Fowl that excel refpe&ively, I ftiall leave it for the Curious to difpute which of them deferves the Superiority,

Of the Attainment of Good FO W ' L, and the Continuance of them.

Without a great deal of Caution ufed, when a Gentleman firft lets out to be a Cocker, he is liable to meet with great Difap- pointments, for as very few at the firft are wil- ling to rely upon their own Judgment, they are apt to accept of fuch as Sportfmen are pleat- ed to put into their Hands ; fome will prefent him with Fowl, and commend them for the beft in the World, for want of Judgment to know better; Others, through a Vie w of Inte- reft, will impofe any upon him, fo they are not mereDunghills, purely to ferve their own private Ends ; Others may fupply him with really good Fowl, but having no better Opinion of his Judgment than of the former Perfons, in all Probability crofles one with the other, and fo, confequently, will have a promifcuous Breed ; Thus I have known Gentlemen go on for feve- ral Years, till the Expence of it became fo great, without Succefs, for want of taking proper Meafures, that they were almoft weary of it, tho* the Inclination has been ever fo ftrong, be- fore they could arrive at a good Breed ; and as it is not a very eafy Matter to fall into a good

Breed

( 30 )

Breed of Cocks, I thought it might be neceflary to lay down Rules for the more immediate At- tainment of them ; therefore, of Neceffity, En- quiry muft firft be made into a Man's Judgment who recommends Fowl ; Secondly, into his Prin- ciple, for tho' the Principle be ever fo good, if Judgment is wanting, itavaileth nothing* they may bear the Charader, like a great many that I have known, of having good Fowl, and in two or three Years quite run out ; therefore, it is not altogether having Fowl from People, who are reported to have fuch by Men of no Judgment, that will anfwer the End, but rather from thofe \vhofeConduft and Diligence in Breeding is fuch as can propofe a Certainty every Year, which may be done by proper Trials ; and tho' the belt Judges may be deceived in Crofles hitting, yet they may be fo far upon a Certainty as not to injure any young Beginner ; and there are but two certain Ways that I can propofe for it, the firft of which relates a good deal to what I have already laid, which is, having Fowl from Men of approved Honour and Integrity, as well as Judgment ; and who, if they thought, had not a good Crofs within themfelves, would ra- ther ftnd them none, than fuch as would do their Frieni Injury : The Second Way is by 'frequenting great Matches, where, in all Proba- bility the belt Cocks are fought; for by this Means you have an Opportunity of feeing a Number of .Brothers -fight, of feveral Sorts • fo that if you havefo much Intereft in the Own- ers, or can make a Friend to procure a frelh

Cock

Cock, full Brother to fuch as have excelled in the Match, or elfe a Pair of Sifters, you are iure to be upon a Certainty : Thus, by frequenting Meetings, it is poffible to get a Cock of one, and a Pair of Hens of another, and fo enter im- mediately upon a good Breed.

Having fhewn the fpeedieft and moft certain Methods for the Attainment of good Fowl, I fliall endeavour next to fliew how to continue them ; as there are great Difficulties to go thro* before a good Breed is, generally fpeaking, to be attain'd, fo are they as great in the Continu- ance of them : Any infignificant trifling Breeder may meet with a good Breed by Chance, but they are no fooner pofleft of them, than they immediately ruin their Conftitution by bad Ma- nagement, elfe how ftiould fo many good Breeds have been deftroy'd in a few Years as I could mention, was it not for Want of Judgment in crofling of them ; fbmetimes two or three Years are thrown away by too long a Continuance of them together ; other fometimes they fly from that Way of Breeding, when it is neceflary they fliould be continued, which fliews, that there ought to be no general Rule for either, but fhould be continued a longer or Ihorter Time juft as they turn out in Shape and Conftitution; fome Fowl will preferve a good Shape till they arrive at the Age of Seven or Eight-, others, which might be very fit to fight at Two, will decline, and grow out of Shape, at Three or Four, at the moft ; the fame with Regard to their Conftitution ; all which proceed from the

DifFe-

C v )

Difference of Age, Shape, and Conftitution of Fowl they are bred from.

The firft Trial that can be made, whether a Cock will fuit with* Hens or not, is when he is three, and the Hens two Years old, which be- ing put together the Year before, the Produft of them are then Staggs ; which,. if a Trial is made of them in a proper Manner, and they an- fwer Expectation, it is fufficient to encourage any one to continue the fame again. I can't fay, but a Trial of Cocks is more fatisfa&ory than of Staggs, but if they are bred early, chu- flng the fhorteft and ftiffeft for Trials, it may luffice : Thus would I continue a Cock with Hens till they be three and four Years old each, \vhich makes up three Years, beginning with the Cock of two Years old and the Hens one ; Youth is very neceffary on one Side, and ought to be made a general Rule, for tho' a Cock be fe- ven, eight, nay tenYears old, which is the fartheft I would ever exceed, if he has never been abus'd in any Refpect, he will get very good Fowl with early Pullets of a youthful Strain ; in the fame Manner alfo Staggs will relieve old Hens ; and it muft be obferv'd, that Youth on one Side muftbe ftinted, according to the Age of the con- trary Side, be what it will ; but Fowl ought never to be made Ufe of fooncr than two Years old on one Side, and one on the other ; but the iiireft Way that I can propofe to breed ready !Money Cocks, is from two and three Years old each, they being then in the greateft Perfe&ion ; for if Fowl are not form'd of an active, clean

Shape,

r 33 ;

Shape, they will be rather gummy at four, and require Youth to repair thofe drofly Particles, fo that I fhall endeavour to find out a Method to preferve Youth on one Side, at the Expira- tion of four Years, without running from the Certainty of a good Crofs, which muft be ef- fe&ed by breeding out of Father and Daughters, and Mother and Aunts, with a Son and Ne- phew, beginning at five Years old with the Cock, putting the laft Year's Produd to him ; and that Daughter's Pullets may be put to hitn for four Years together ; one of the fineft old Hens muft be continued with him for that Ufe only, ehufing every Year the fineft fhap'd Ones, and beft feather'd : By the fame Method, a Stagg may alfo be put every Year to the old Hens, which is called a better Way of breeding ; but in my Opinion, quite equal : This Method I look upon to be a great deal better than conti- nuing the old Fowl together till feven and eight Years old each ; for if the Crofs was juft before, they will not be let down by adding Relations together : Alfo Brother and Sifter may be put together in the youthful Days of their Parents ; and it may be neceflary to ob- lerve, that Youth is more required in Brother and Sifter, than in either of the other Methods of Breeding, becaufe there is no Change of Blood, which in either of the other is one Third. There are yet two more Ways of keeping to a good Kind, which, 1 think, are fuperior to any yet mentioned ; the firft of which is, By breed- ing from half Brother and Sifter, that is twice

E by

( 34 )

by the Cock, but from different Hens, provided each Sort, from a Year's Trial of each, have prov'd very good ; if fo, the putting of them * together in this Manner, will increafe the Blood, and make them hit confiderably deeper. The Second Way is by breeding from Own-Coufins, whether Brother or Sifter's IfTue it is not material, if they have met with equal Ufage ; and I ne- ver fee better throughout the whole Courfe of my being a Sportfman, than from this Way of Breeding.

Having run through all the different Ways that are material for breeding out of Relations, the better to keep Blood together, I ihall en- deavour to fliew the Advantages that are to be reap'd from it : Firft, You have it in your Pow- er to choofe out of a Number, Things of an ex- cellent Shape, as well as Youth and Vigour, in every Method on one Side, and in leveral on both. Secondly, You are upon a Certainty, with Regard to Conftitution ; all which you are deprived of when ftrange Fowl are recom- mended and put into your Hands; befides the great Advantage of raifing a Number of the lame Blood, from the Truth of Breeding ; for we frequently fee Crofles made by Fowl, which are refpeftively good themfelves, and have been, prov'd as fuch by fufficient Trials, yet the Pro- duel: of them will be nothing comparable to themfelves.

Among the great many Inftanccs that I could give of this Nature, I Ihall beg Leave to men- tion

( 35 )

tion one or two as briefly as poffible ; In the laft Year, fave one, that Mr Boflom of Lincoln bred, he made a Crofs betwixt his Duck Wings and favourite Down-Rumps, which were both excellent good ; the Cock being a true fhap'd, frelh, two Year old Cock, and the Hens frefli three Years old ; Mr Eojlom thought this to be the beft Crofs he ever made in his Life, yet not- withftanding thefe were really good of them- felves, and iufficiently tried as fuch, by fighting a Number of Brothers of each Sort, which, to my Knowledge were exceeding good, yet they bred very indifferent Stock ; not excelling in any one Refpecl, but, on the Contrary, full of Sloth and Inactivity • indeed, there was one of them very remarkable for his Game, (nor was any of them wanting in that Refpect) but ftrucfc fifty fair Blows without doing any Exe- cution, therefore had no Place in my Affeftion, becauie every ftupid Clod can perform the fame. But why this Cock and Hens, full of Youth and Life, and approved Goodnefs, did not breed bet- ter, is the Thing neceflary to be enquired into, and muft be accounted for, or elfe can never be amended. The only Reafons that can be given for it, therefore, are theie ; The Cock was got by the old Duck-Wing, when eight Years old, and out of Mr CW/Ws Dolly-Tulle* ; and tho' he appear'd a very healthful Cock at that Age, yet, it is impoffible, but his Conftitution muft have been impaired, by being cut fo often out of Feather at that fatal Time of the Year, being in September, befides being removed to, at leaft,

E i twenty

twenty different Places, where he muft meet with bad Uiage at fome of them ; and tho' his bons, which he got at that Age, appear' d very gay, and all of them won very handfbmly, yet it is poffible a Taint might enfue from the hard Ufage the old Dnck-IWn% Cock met with, and lie concealed in the firft Generation, or, at leaft, not dilcover it felf fo much in the firft as the fecond.

The fecond Reafon that is to be given for it, might be owing to their different Way and Me- thod of fighting, one being of the Bull-Dog Kind, the other of a more aftive and ready Way of fighting, which is quite the reverfe, and is very often the Occafion of Crofles miffing, tho' there are very few, even of the Curious, that look upon it to be material ; but I will venture to fay, that no one can affure themfelves of a Crofs being juft, without either confulting in what Manner they fight, and wherein they ex- cel, that they may crofs with Things proper to fuit that Way of fighting, and keep up that Excellence, or elfe by putting Relations toge- ther alter a proper Manner : I don't fay, but good Fowl may, and have been bred, without confulting either of thofe Methods, and chiefly by relying upon Youth arid Blood ; but yet there is not that Certainty in it, as in the for- mer Ways, which was the Reafon of my un- dertaking to nominate three different Sorts that might excel, the better to furnifh the Publick with Ideas of what never enter'd the Verge of their Thoughts • not that it was, in my Opi- nion,

( 37 )

nion, more owing to the laft Reafon than the firft, that the Fowl of Mr Boflonh did not breed better, but add them both together, and they may appear to any Perlbn of Judgment as an Obftacle.

I alfo knew a Right Nornl of Mr Heneagesy one of the very belt I ever-faw, which fought at Grantham, put to young Hens of Mr Bof- lonis, Grand Daughters of the Old Duck-wing, button'd in Left, which bred as indifferent Fowl as the other Inftance before mentioned, both which Kinds exccffd refpedively : Now, there are no Reafons to be given for this, but the Cock's being cut out of Feather, and harrafs'd about, for he receiv'd no Damage by fighting, and the Reafon that was given before.

Thefe, with a great many more Inftances of the like Nature that I have met with lately, give me fufficient Ground to believe, that it is dange- rous to purfne ftrange Breeds too much ; and wherever a Crofs does hit, to make the beft Ufe of it, according to the Rules laid down ; not but I muft obferve before I conclude, that it is e- qually as dangerous as it is advantageous, to put Relations together, if not manag'd with a great Deal of Camion ; therefore, ftrift Examination muft be made, that there be no Taint, whether in their Nature or Conftitution, for it will cer- tainly ihevv itfelf double in the Offspring; like- wiie the fame in Shape, if there be any Defbr-* mity or Difproportion it is a fure Means to en- creafe it ; the fame alfo of their Irregularity in fighting, an Addition of which will render them

quitQ

quite aukward, for, as I have obferv'd before, there are a great many Sorts and Degrees of Game-Fowl, that are deficient in feveral material Points, and whenever fuch Defects are difcover'd, 'tis neceflarv they fhould be repaired before Re- lations be put together ; for it is but reafonable to think, that two trifling Failings become a Fault, as well as two good Qualifications help to make an Excellence.

Of Breeding and Management of them, 'ti jor

I Have before defcrib'd the true Game-Cocfc in fuch Manner as I would chufe to breed from, therefore fliall begin with the propereft Months in the Year to breed in, which are March, Afril, and May : June fometimes pro- duces very ftiff, ihapely Fowl, when the pre- ceeding Months will not admit of it :, but yet it is not proper to rely upon it in general, and none will anfwer in that Month but fuch as are bred from lengthy as well as youthful Fowl on both Sides. March is look'd upon by moft, to be the beft Month in the Year, and which I a- gree to if it be moderate and open Weather, but if attended with fevere frofty Mornings, and cold, dry Winds, as it has in a particular Man- ner diftinguifh'd itfelf for four or five Years laft paft, it flops Chickens of their Growth.

The only Thing I have to fpeak in Favour of March, is the Advantage of having the firft Fruits of the Hen's Production, which is verjr

great

( 39 )

great, Nature being at that Time twice as

ftrong as at the latter End of the Summer, and

was I oblig'd to breed Fowl in June and July,

as fome do, I would let my Hens fit in March,

and bring up their Young, after which, when

they come to be frefti and iuftful again, would

breed out of them • for I am of Opinion, that if

a Hen begins to lay at Candlemas and continues

till Mayday, tho' fhe is ever fo frefh and young,

it is as long as Ihe can poffibly produce out

worth letting -, and I have obferv'd, that every

Lowter have been confiderably lefs than other,

when a Hen is ftrongly inclin'd to fit ; but the

beft Month in the Year is April, for in this

Month the Weather is more temperate, and

Chickens may be permitted to go out four or

five Hours in a Day, for it is not to be fuppos'd

what Difference there is betwixt Chickens that

are confined too much in the Houle in cold

Weather, as from the latter End of February

until the Middle of March, and thofe which arc

bred in April ; and was I a perfon qualify 'd to

breed a Number, I would have them all come

as near the Month of April as poffible. May

is not amils, but does not in general, produce fo

long Fowl as the former Months do, yet it is

loon enough for Chickens to come that are bred

from lengthy as well as youthful Fowl, fo that

there is no Neceffity for any one to confine

themfelves to one Month, but Ihould breed

fooner or later as the Fowl require : It is no

Matter how foon Eggs are gathered from old

Hens, becaufe they don't lay either fo foon or

fo

( 4° )

fo many as young ones do, nor do the Fowl run fo much into a prepofterous Length as the Pro- dud of young ones.

The next Thing I fhall treat of with Regard to Breeding, is Places proper for it ^ a great ma- ny are of Opinion, that any Place will do, pro- vided it be an odd One, which Notion will ad- mit of fome Contradiction, becaufe there are di- vers Places, fuch as Hovels, Windmills, S>c. which lie too much cxpos'd to cold Weather at the Spring of the Year : There is here and there a Cottage-Houfe which may ferve for that End, for generally fpeaking, there is a little Garden which affords a great deal of Pleafure and Warmth ; but the beft and moft natural Places to breed early Birds at, are private Farm- Yards, which afford both Plenty and Variety of Meat all the Spring; fuch a Place as this is far preferable to any other that can be found out, where Fowl muft be Hand-fed, for if due Care be not taken both as to Quantity and Quality of Meat, they will decline very much in one Year's Time ; befidesthe Want of Exercife that a Farm- Yard affords, for high Keeping, with a moderate Quantity of Hens, requires Exercife in them as well as Horfes and other Creatures ; but here is the Misforune, there is not one Breeder in an hundred that will be at the Expence of a Farm-Yard ; for fuppofe it to be a Tenant's, it can't be expected to be taken up the whole Year round, without a rcafonable Confideration : In this Farm-Yard I would breed, fometimes out of four, five, or fix Sifters, juft as the Cock required

for

or Age ; with Staggs I would not exceed the Number of three, becaule they are fo full of Mettle, that by conftant Treading, if they have too many, Nature becomes weak, and fo con- ftquently will produce weakly Fowl ; two, three, and four Year old Cocks may diipenfe with five or fix, and at at five, fix, feven, and eight Year old, would leflen their Number as they advanced in Years: There are fome Bree- ders even of the celebrated Race, which put ten Hens to a Cock without any Exception to Years or ought elfe, and the Realbn they give, why they do it, is, becaufe one Strain from the Cock is fufficient for the whole Lowter ; which No- tion is quite wrong, and it is fo far evident to the contrary, that tho' a Hen has been with a Cock a Week or ten Days, which, was it poffi- ble to be done, is long enough, upon taking him away, that it is not fufficient to ftrain above eight or nine Egs, which is far Ihort of the whole Lowter ; nay, there is a great deal of Room to objed againft the Truth of this, becaufe there has been innumerable Proofs, that upon taking up a Cock from a Hen and putting down ano- ther, after flinging away three or four Eggs at the moft, the Remaining Part ftiall all be got by the fecond Cock : This I fay, feemingly con- tradifts the other, yet it is poffible they may both be true, becaufe the Seed of the fecond Cock may deftroy that of the firft, and render it of none EfFeft. But when all thefe Doubts are anfwered, what do they avail to the Truth of Breeding ; for fuppofe there be a Neceffity of F putting

putting a fecond Cock down to Hens, it is pro- per they fliould be all clear before an Egg be laved from him, tho' there be half a Dozen with him, or elfe how muft a Perfon come to the Truth of his Breed ; for Suppofition will never do in breeding Cocks.

There is another great Difpute among Bree- ders concerning Rucking Eggs, whether they •will be as %ood as the prior Part of the Lowter or not? To which I anfwer, that there will be no Difference as to Goodnefs or Way of fighting, but will be fmaller and weaker than the Genera- lity of the reft ; for when a Hen rucks, flie is deprived of all her Luft, and does not receive the Cock with that Warmth and Vigour, at fuch Times as fhould ftrain thofe Eggs, as at other Times, nor are they nigh fo well filled. As for flinging away the firft, it is for Fafhion's Sake more than any Reaibn a Breeder can give ; and among the many idle Notions that is one : But the beft Way to avoid all Difputes concerning Rucking Eggs, is to omit fetting of them, which is not to be done effectually with- out taking up every Hen as foon as they ruck, into fome adjacent Place, and keep them up in a Pen without Straw, 'till they have laid out all their Rucking Eggs ; and at the fame Time it is neceffary to give them a little warm Meat once or twice during the Time, for it will help to encreale their Luftand make them cleave to the Cock a great deal iooner ; by this Means you have not only the full Strength of every reipedive Hen, but may get a great many more than by fuffering

them

( 43 )

them to fit two or three Days before they are turned off their Nefts. There remains another Thing in the Praftice of fetting Eggs, which I look upon to be very trifling, and that is the /hiring or picking out thofe which are addle ; if a Cletch are a Fortnight of gathering, and kept the fame Quantity of Time before they are fet, in cold Weather, as is very common, there will then be as many addle as otherways, and it may not be amifs upon fuch Sufpicion to examine them ; but if Eggs are gathered as they ought to be, tho' it be a Fortnight from one Hen, and kept in a Place where there is a moderate Warmth, and fet immediately after the Num- ber of eleven are gathered, which Number I would not exceed early in the Year, what Ne- neffity can there be for endeavouring to find out fuch as are addle • but I have no Notion of hav- ing many fuch, for I can fafely take it upon Oath, in the Year 1741,1 fet upwards of an hun- dred from four odd Hens, and had only four faul- ty in the whole Number ; and the greateft Fail- ing that I find among Breeders with regard to fetting Eggs, is the Neglect of providing fitting Hens in due Time, for it is proper they fhotild be procured three or four Days before there is Occafion for them, during which Time they will have Laid out all their Rucking Eggs, and be fure to fitfteady ; but leaft they fliould not, or an Egg be added to the Number, which ihould be all mark'd, 'tis proper to examine eve- ry Ncft two or three Days after they are let : There is a great deal alfo in forming a Neft after F a a

( 44 )

a proper Manner, and mind that it is not too deep, for if io, there is no Relief for fome Part of them, but muft be crowded one upon ano- ther, fo that fome will receive a great deal more Warmth than others, becaufe the Hen cannot turn them as Nature direds, the Want of which commonly produces fmall Cletches.

The next Thing neceffary to be obferv'd is the bringing up of Chickens, which, if ftopt in their Growth by bad Management, cannot arrive to Perfe&ion ; therefore, as fbon as Chickens are all hatch'd, it is proper they fliould be taken in- to a Room which is pretty warm and dry, as a boarded Floor with Straw at each Corner, for the Hen to brood them on, or elie into a little Straw Houfe, where nought can get to them that is hurtful ; for tho' the Hen can give Warmth to all Parts of the Body while they continue fmall, yet their tender Feet are apt to be cold.

I need not be very particular as to the Diet- ing Part, moft People being acquainted with it ; therefore, fliall only obferve, that their Meat ought not to be either too large or too dry, while they are young : Milk is an excellent Thing for them the firft Fortnight, and Cheefe Cilrd ; and when they are large enough to eat whole Oat-Meal, they fhould have Plenty of Milk and Water with it, as being very dry Food ; and whether their Food afterward be Wheat or Barley, they ought to have Plenty of Water ; for I have known Fowl receive a Taint in their Youth for want of it, in a dry Seafon. The

( 45 )

The next Thing that follows is, the putting out Staggs to Walks, there being divers Ways of doing it ; but the moft prejudicial Way of all is, the putting of them out to Matter Walks too foon, as a great many do at three and four Months old, without confidering the ill Confequences of it ; for tho' they are bred ever fo early, it muft be at a Time of the Year when Corn is, generally fpeaking, thrafli'd out ; therefore, their Dependance is chiefly upon be- ing fed once a Day with Hinder*ends, which they get a very fmall Share of among a Num- ber of Hens ; befides, the Detriment they muft receive, thro' aNeceffity of performing Family- Duty, which they are not capable of at that Age, but ought rather to referve that Strength, which they are needleily deprived of, till they have an Opportunity of ihewing their Valour another Way ; and it is as much owing to this, as any one Thing that I can mention, that we have fo many flat fided, flender bon'd, loofe feather'd Cocks ; and, I think, of the two bad Ways, it is a great deal worfe than letting Staggs run under, tho' it be a whole Year.

A better Way than either of thefe is, to keep them together, by Hand-feeding, till Harveft is all got in, for then early Staggs are able to encounter with a few Hens; befides, at that Time of the Year, Hens are either fitting or molting ; and thofe which are not, are not fb craving, as from the Spring of the Year till July : But then again, there is one Misfortune attends this Way, as thofe Staggs won't go

under

under, there muft either be a Supply of frefh Walks every Year, or elfe a lefler Number bred one Year, to make Room for a greater the next ; therefore, this is not the perfed Way, tho' it differs only in this, inftead, of putting them out at Michaelmas, I would continue them toge- ther in a Farm- Yard all Winter, and until the old Cocks were fought off, to the End, that they might fucceed them : But I muft obferve, that there ought not to be a Female of any Age with them, leaft it occafion a Civil War amongft them j nor muft their Comb and Gills be cut during the Time of their Cohabitation together, but rather when they are about three Months old, or elfe, not till- they go put to Walks : But I think the former much the belt Way, becaufe the moft of them being nigh a Year old, before they can take Mafterr Walks by this Method, their Combs will be apt to be too full grown, and therefore will loofe too great a Quantity of Blood.

I fhall conclude the whole by fhewing a Ne- ceffity for keeping proper and regular Books, with the Manner of doing it : A great many Breeders content themfelves with keeping a fmall and imperfeft Account of the Genealogy of their Fowl, and think Books are only ufeful for Memorandums of what Fowl are bred, and where they are walked ; but I muft beg Leave to give them to underftand, that it is very ma- terial, to infert in a particular Manner, what fuch and fuch Cocks and Hens are defcended from, which are put together every Year, or

elfe

( 47 )

elfe, how can they form any Judgment how to make proper Crofles in their own Family ? This Negled 1 look upon to be very much the Oc- cafion of a great many good Breeds being loft, for want of knowing how far they were related, or whether they were related at all or not.

A Man that would be a curious Breeder of Cocks, ought to be a good Genealogift, and car- ry all in his Head that is material to be inferted in the Book, with regard to Pedigree ; and I am of Opinion, that there ought to be two Books, one for Memorandums, during the Time of Breeding, the other to give a fatisfaftory Ac- count of the Parentage of Fowl, and where they are walked : In the former Book, you are to take an Account, Firft, Of what Places you breed at, what Fowl you have at each Place, and how they are marked : Secondly, You are to take an Account of the Quantity of Eggs fet in every Cletch, from each Place, and where they are fet : Thirdly, When Chickens come off you are to crofi out the Eggs, and fet down fo many Chickens come off at fuch a Time, men- tioning the Place where they are to be brought up ; and when any dies, or happen any Misfor* tune, you muft reduce the Number according- ly : Laftly, When they arrive at that Age, fo as to diftinguifh handfome Pullets from others, which will be about the Time when Cockrels ought to have their Combs either cut or pulled, the whole Number then fhould be collected to- gether, killing of thofe Pullets that are ufelefs, the reft muft be taken an Account of as well as

the

( 48 )

the Cocks : This is the fole Ufe of the Memo- randum Book.

The Second is of no Ufe till Staggs go out to Walks, wherein, Firft, You muft copy from the other what Places you breed at that Year, from what Fowl they are bred, and what they are derived from, for three Generations of each Side ; Secondly, when they go out to Walks, you are to take an Account of every Cock and Hen, where they are walked, what Fowl they are bred from, what Colour they are of, and what Marks they have, both natural and artifi- cial • becaufe, you may be deceived in the lat- ter ; Laftly, When any Cock happens a Misfor- tune, fo as either to be ftole, or killed by Acci- dent, the faid Cock muft be crofs'd out of the Book, adding the Misfortune; alfo when Cocks are fought off.

FINIS.

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1 -month loans may be renewed by calling 642-3405

6-month loans may be recharged by bringing books to Circulation Desk

Renewals and recharges may be made 4 days prior to due date

DUE AS STAMPED BELOW

JAN It981 MAR 41987

'C. OIK. DEC 4

22 1389

APR 81984

rec'd arc. MAR 2 v

APR 3 0 198

BEC. OIL

iUTcRLiBRAnY LOAN

MAR 2 7

UNIV. OF CALIF,, BERK.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNi.

FORM NO. DD6, 60m, 3/80 BERKELEY, CA 9472t /

Photomount

Pamphlet

Binder

Gaylord Bros., Inc.

Makers Stockton, Calif.

PAT. JAN. 21, 1908

YB I 633o

GENERAL LIBRARY -U.C. BERKELEY