greater certainty, try also by running him down in a field, and sparring with another cock, at either of which, if unsound, he will turn black' in the face; prove the hens too in a similar manner, and be assured there has not been the least taint in their race for many generations past. The cock, in respect to exterior qualifications, should possess a thin long head, or very taper, if short; large full eyes, stout crooked beak, thick long neck, short compact body, with a round breast, firm stout thighs, placed well up to the shoulders, long strong legs, and if they correspond in colour with the beak, that is esteemed a perfection; broad thin feet, and very long claws; an upright easy carriage and stately walk, with wings not lying close on his back, but in some measure extended. N. B. A long necked cock has a great advantage in battle, particularly when his antagonist strikes at the head; one with a sharp breast carries much useless weight about him, besides never having a fine forehand; and a cock whose thighs are placed rather behind cannot maintain a long battle. There are good cocks of all colours, but the feathers should be thin, short, and hard, which are also a sign of health, as the contrary is of a bad constitution. A cock possessed of all the aforementioned qualifications, in condition to fight, ought not to weigh more than 4lb. 10 oz.; for when above that weight, and the hens of a good size, their progeny, if well walked, will be too large to fight within the articles, and if the cock is much less in weight than 4lb. 8 oz. the chickens will not have the due share of bone requisite to contend with wellbred cocks. The hens should correspond to the cock in feather, make, and shape, with bodies roomy behind, for the production of large eggs.

The breeding walk should be where there are out-buildings for shelter in bad weather, on a dry soil, if gravelly so much the better, at a distance from any house where fowls are kept, lest the hens should be trod by other cocks, and not near a wood or coppice, for fear of vermin that might destroy the chickens, or of a fox carrying off the cock or hens. If possible get a situation where there is a constant stream of clear water running off by the house, but if necessary to pump or draw it for the birds, let the same be changed very often, or they won't long be healthy. Farm houses, where other fowls are kept, or hogs, geese, or ducks dirty all the water about the spot, are not eligible situations to breed game cocks. Let the roosting place be of good size, dry, and free from offensive smells. Take care that the perches are round, and not fixed higher than the birds can ascend, or descend from with ease, nor too thick for them to gripe easily, else their feet will swell.

in

In the beginning of February, at onest, put the cock and not more than 3 or 4 hens together; let them, if possible, be sisters, for greater certainty in breeding; observe how they agree, and should the cock take a dislike to any hen, remove her away directly. Before the hens begin to lay, provide distinct and separate nests for them, else they will frequently drop their eggs improper places, and sometimes quarrel, after which they perhaps will never run peaceably together again, but fight, occasionally, till they entirely spoil one another. The first egg being generally smaller than the rest, mark and leave it in the nest; take out all the others the same day as laid, write on and put them into a box with bran, and be careful that they are neither

thrown about nor changed. When the hens begin to grow broody, which may easily be known by their countenances turning white and their combs shrivelling, they at that time are not in perfect health, therefore do not save any more eggs, but leave them in the nests to entice the hens to sit sooner, for which purpose use the eggs already laid by, as most likely to produce good chickens; but if two flocks are wanted from each hen, then set their first eggs under other hens, healthy dung-hill ones in preference; choose a situation where the others cannot get at them, otherwise they will quarrel, and, perhaps, occasion the eggs to be broke. Have plenty of food and water always near the sitting hens, and if they are in a place that is floored, lay a quantity of gravel on it. Confine, till their heat is gone off, in separate dry coops, close to where the other game birds feed, those hens which have been hindered from sitting, otherwise in each case they would be apt to fight, and perhaps get disfigured, which might probably prevent them from laying any more. that season.

When

they begin to lay their second clutch, proceed as before, only set them on their own eggs, and by no means force them to lay a third set, as that would weaken them too much, and, besides, the chickens be of little value if hatched later than May; those hatched before the end of March are often cramped by cold, and such as are later than the beginning of June never run cocks so high upon leg, light fleshed, or large boned. Make the nests for the sitting hens of clean straw rubbed soft, in large earthen pans raised 18 inches from the ground, to guard against vermin, and don't put above 12 eggs under each hen.

Some of the eggs may, perhaps, begin

hatching on the 19th day; attend to that, and as the hen will be inclined to quit the nest as soon as two or three chickens are out of the shell, let them be taken away, wrapped in some wool in a basket covered with flannel, and placed in a warm situation where their mother can't hear them, feeding them with hard boiled egg chopped small, but restoring them to her at night. When the weather proves dry, and the sun shines, the chickens may be put out of doors the day after they are hatched, confining the hens under crates or in coops to prevent them from rambling, which will cause them to hover their flocks oftener than if at liberty; but when the weather is cold, or the ground wet, keep them in a room, confining the hens in the same manner, taking, in every case, especial care that there is space enough for the chickens to get to their mother without squeezing, which would make them grow long bodied, and will be the effect if they often go between close garden rails. Should four hens hatch within about the space of as many days, take the chickens from one, and divide them among the others, in an evening after they have been some time at roost, removing to another walk the hen deprived of her chickens. Should the hens not have above eight a piece on the average, they may all be put under two, who will nurse the chickens as their own, and they by that means will have fewer enemies.

Feed the chickens for the first fortnight with bread and egg mixed, besides grits, and when kept in a room, or where they can't get at insects, procure them some raw bones of beef or mutton to pick. Give them very often fresh water in shallow vessels, and take care it don't get warm. When a fortnight old, feed them on barley, set

ting the hens at liberty; and where there is not a running stream, place their drink in the shade; guard against all foul water, and particularly soap suds, which may occasion the roop, a fatal disease that seldom can be thoroughly cured, Feed the chickens in the morning, soon as let out, again at noon, and also about an hour before they go to roost; giving them, each time, as much as they can well eat, but not so as to leave any food, which would prevent them from taking necessary exercise, and be nearly as detrimental as keeping them too long without victuals. Where the soil is not gravelly, have a load or two laid like a bank, and scatter the corn thereon upon both sides, which may prevent quarrelling between the different flocks. Do not have a hole for the chickens to go in and out as they like, but let the door of the roosting-place stand open all the day, and lock the same at night; also count the chickens at least every morning.

When the breeding-hens have all hatched, or are near it, remove the cock to another walk, lest he should grow morose and beat the chickens; besides, by sending him away the hens will take care of their young much longer. Soon as the pullets can be distinguished from the cocks, destroy all the former, except such as are intended to breed from, as they will never be worth the expense of keeping for the table: by pursuing this method the cocks will thrive the better, and other sportsmen, perhaps, be prevented from obtaining the same breed. Let the roosting perches for the chickens be of a size they can easily gripe; made round, and covered with woollen cloth, to prevent them from growing either duck-footed or crooked breasted, which would be