The Elbert County tribune., 1905-10-19


other. In the last competition there
were few of the cokerels requiring en-
couragement; in fact, the difficulty was
TO get them to stop at all. The winner
succeeded in growing fifty-one times iii
sey enteen minutes.
For some time before the cock crow
i..g competition begins the birds are
fed in special manner peculiar to
each owner; the secret of the art of
feeding is very closely guarded. For
q bout three weeks prior to the compe-
tstion the food is carefully dosed, and
made as stimulating and exciting as
is possible. When the bird is sent to
lie show n timekeeper stands in front
OF it during the growing contest; he
riarks the number OF crows and the
variation of notes in Il given time,
which is generally fifteen minutes.
Paris has just had a cock growing
competition open TO the whole world.
Tle birds in the Paris competition are
brought by their owners In darkened
boxes. AS each competitors turn
comes the cock is suddenly taken ont
into the light Of day and placed on
platform.
The bird imagines that he is there TO
herald supposed dawn, and begins TO
crow vigorously. At the same moment
special timepiece is started. The ut
terer of the greatest number of cock-a-
doodle-does in quarter of an hour is
the one which is proclaimed champion
chanticleer.
At Huddersfield they have an asso
citation for the promotion of lark sing
ing. The association has now been in
existence for about twenty years. and
last year 313 birds We're entered for
the various competitions. At each
sing about fifteen birds are entered.
These contests, together with lark
breeding, form very attractive hobby
to mary people in Huddersfield and
the surrounding villages.
The manner i'll which such competi-
tions are managed is very interesting.
AS rule the birds are kept for con
siderable time IN the dark, and when
the competitors turn" comes he is
brought in his darkened cage before
mirror. Light is thrown upon the mir
ror, and when he sees his own refiec-
ton he takes it to be a rival.
After about half a minute in which
to sean the enemy" his cage is taken
il front of the window. AS soon as
this takes place he bursts into song,
spreading his wings and singing for a
considerable time. Still, he is remark
ably sensitive while singing; the least
thing. such as taking out a pocket
handkerchief, may put an end to his
lay.
The bird also abhors noise. so alb
solute quiet must be maintained in Or
der to give him fair play. Last year
three birds sang for about ten minutes
without cessation, thus gaining the
championship.
Frog catching contests are just about
the newest thing in these competitions.
The greatest struggle in the fancy
occurred short time ago, and resulted
in a victory for James Ahern, who re-
Gently won the fishing championship.
The frog catching challenge was is
sued by John Leger, who last summer
caught thirty contralto, sixteen So
prano, ten tenor and twenty seven bass
frogs in three hours.
The conditions of the contest stated
that any frogs whose legs were under
two inches should not be counted. Al
together, about 200 men went down TO
the ponds chosen at O'Clock in the af-
ternoon, and the contest lasted for two
hours.
The contestants had red flannel for
bait, and We're armed with small shot
guns and clubs. The first frog cap
tured was a large one of the bass va
riety, and he was felled with club.
When "time" was called the winner of
the competition had nineteen frogs.
In some variations of frog catching
contests the expedient of spearing
frogs in their holes is sometimes re
sorted to, but this is not very sue
cessful method. After the competition
mentioned Il prize medal was given 10
the winner at Il dinner held in his
honor.
Flowing contests are quite common
in the country. The man who was
best known as the champion plowmal'
won about $4,000 in prizes. This was
Jim Baker, of Ipswich. Being a thrift
ty man he amassed comfortable com
potency rs n result of his success in
these competitions.
A novel competition was recently
started by a Newfoundland fleet dur
ins fishing. This was competition
to see who could eat the largest guam
tity of salted cod. The winner in this
case was seized with n terrible thirst;
he drained Off decanter and fell un-
conscious to the ground. The contest
proved fatal, Inflammation of the stom-
ach being produced.
The members of the Hoxton Consti-
tutional Club have taken part in
novel prolonged smoking competition.
Seventy of the members Were each
supplied with an eighth of an ounce of
shny tohnccn The nhiect of the com.