THE BOOK OF THE GAMES.

off. This is called dubbing. The age for dubbing is·

generally from four to five months old. To do it prop-
erly requires two persons, one to hold the bird firmly so
as to prevent stniggling, while the other removes th e parts
to be cut off. The operation is thus described by Mr.
F. W. McDougall: "The operator Iays hold of the wattle,
inserting the point of his dubbing scissors at the lower
mandible, or jaw, and striking straight far the ear, leaving
the old skin about half an inch, or hardly so much, be-
tween your cut and the eye. When you get to the ear
commence again at the under side of the wattle, and run
the point of the scissors about half way down, then dis-
sect gradually up to the ear. When the wattles and ears
are off, the operator inserts his lef t thumb across the in-
side of the beak, placing his forefinger on the back of
· the head. Care must, however, be taken not to choke
the bird. Then setting his scissors clase and firmly on
the head, straight · up from the beak, with one cut, by
keeping the scissors well pressed down as he cuts, he will
take the comb clean off; then merely a slight cut each
side of the beak, to take off a small excrescence that
would make the setting in at the beak heavy, and the
operation is over. The blood usually stops at once and
nothing more is required. He will then be nice and red
agaín in six weeks, and fit to exhibit."
Dubbing was first practiced for pit purposes, and for
such purposes it is undoubtedly necessary. People have
become so accustomed to the appearance of a dubbed
Game cock that they have begun to regard it as an ad-
dition to his beauty. But it may be questioned whether
it <loes not rather detract from than add to the beauty