Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
BY JUDGE F. J. MARSHALL,

Game cock fighting is almost as
old as history. We have records
where cock lighting was a favorite
| sport more than a thousand years
before the Christian Era. The birds
were Indigenous ito Persia. Hindus-
| tan, and the South Sea Islands. They
are found in their wild state at this
time in the Philippine Islands and the
East Indies.
II is asserted by writer's who have
made this fowl study that il was
found in Georgia in its wild state as
late as 1877. 1t is also claimed that
u was one of these fowls that did the
growing when Peter denied Christ
Be tina. as il may there is no doubt
bout the existence Of the game cock
for thousands Of years
And 1t has been carried down to
the present dav. The very fact that
the birds were trained for hghtinR
and the constant selection Of the very
best for breeding purposes in order
to maintain the very best that might
be in them would indicate the great
health giving properties, or qualities
Of the game cock when crossed on
other varieties Of fowls.
These superb qualities OF vigor
have led eXperimenters 10 use them
in MANY instances in making crosses
to form certain new breeds. They
gave the stamina and vigor that was
obtainable In no other way. Thus
We are compelled 10 admit that while
We may not be willing 10 countenance
cock fighting in any Of its forms ye'
~ has been the means Of preserving
10 us the very best in nature Wha
other bird has such a walk or ca
riage, such q snap In the eve. so much
in flesh with so little in offai?
Best Description Of Bird.
Perhaps the best general descrip-
ton OF the real lighting game cock OF
the anCients as brought down to the
present day and largely bred in Eng
land az we'll as many parts Of Amer
lea We take from John Harris, OF
Cornwall. perhaps the best authority
we have OF this class.
He saws the beak should be big
crooked pointed and hawk like; eve
bold large, fiery. fearless. head small
and tapering, throat and face very
loose and flexible; neck large boned,
round and strong, back. short, broad
a the shoulders. and tapering 10 the
tall breast. broad. full and promi-
nent. with well-developed pectoral
muscles TO give the necessary action
power and force to the wings;
breadth and fullness TO the breast
are most essential TO the game fowl
whether considered from a sporting
point or for real utility"
As indicating the activity and agll-
ity OF the game Mr.. Harrison Weir
speaks Of his Derby Reds after com
ing 10 the feeding place as taking
wing and flying across = two-a
field to an adjoining woods for for
aging, thus showing their strength Of
flight The Pit Game should carry
rather a high tall.
There Is quite tendency for
judges and others to discount the
high tail In awarding prizes in the
show room under the impression that
IL should come under the rule regard
ing squirrel tail upon many other
fowls This Is ali wrong for the Pit
with a low tail would be a regular
nondes CTipt in the ring or in the
hands OF a competent breeder.
Show Lack Of Vitality.
4 Pit Game with a low carried tail
would show a great lack Of vitality
the very point he should be the
strongest in. A good specimen should
stand with legs not very far apart.
The shanks should be rather thin,
fiat, hard and bony and free from all
stand medium high from the ground
not stilty looking but with the hook
joints slightly bent as II ready for
action AT the next moment.
The back should be broad a. the