many are bred in the Republic; while a certain number of them hail from the United States.
The actual battle is sometimes held in a cock-pit, but in many villages takes place at the humble street corner. When the fray commences, there is great excitement; and cocks, which to begin with are perfectly quiet, have their fighting weapons affixed, and are tormented by being placed near their rivals and suddenly taken away. This performance has the effect of infuriating them; and when they are thoroughly alert with the desire to fight, they are released, and fly at each other. The weapons they fight with are sharp, curved blades, which are affixed to the spurs and protected with a leather shield till the proper time, when they are uncovered. While in training, these birds clean themselves by taking a dust bath every morning. They are secured to the floor of their stalls by chains attached to their legs, and are fed sparingly on wet corn once a day, although before fighting they banquet sumptuously on many luxuries, including raw meat and sherry to inspire them with "Dutch courage."
It is amusing to see the peculiar manner in which fighting-cocks perform a journey by train. The brim of a cheap sombrero hat is doubled together basket-wise and the cock is placed in it feet first, the edges of the brim being fastened over his back, so that only an inquiring head and the tail are visible, while the edge of the hat is nailed to a board.
The great Spanish game of frontons, or "Spanish ball," is immensely popular in Mexico, and in the capital is usually played in an arena in the Calle Iturbide, Frontons. called the "Fronton Nacional." The favourite days for play are Saturdays and Sundays, and a good deal of money changes hands on the result. Frontons is really of Basque origin, and is a variety of pelota. It is played against a front wall (fronton) with a leather or wooden protector strapped to the wrist, or else a clustira, a sickle-shaped wicker-work "bat" about 3 ft. long. The
