September i, ISIS. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOKTICOLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



185 



Barhf.—l, C. Auton. 3, J. Smitb. Allhallow^ate, Eip-m. Tttrbits.—\ and 2, W. 

 Kitchen. Antwerps. ~ 1, T. Horsman, Kipon. li, G. Sadltr. Ou-U.—l, A. 

 i;mpli;b>'. a, G. Sadler Atw othfr varu-ty.—l, W. Kitclieu. 2, C. J. Garuett. 

 h« ana c. C. Anton. bfUittg CUitiS.—l, W. Scott/.Boroughbridge. 2, A. Wellfl, 

 Kipon. he and c, C. Anton. 



Rabbit'? ~Jni/ Brfi-d.—Buek.—'i, A. Robson, Mortonon-Sw.lle. 2, C. Auton. 

 c, J. A. PowcU. X»us.— 1, A. Eobson. 2, C. Anton. 



EiTBA Stock.— 1, W. Wilson. Boronghbridge (Guinea Pigs). Eijual 1, J. N. 

 Warrick, Langtborpe (Fantaiis). 

 Judge. — Mr. S. Burn, Whitby. 



POLYGAMY IN PIGEONS. 



Febsut me to refer to the article under this title which ap- 

 peared in " our Journal " of August 21st. The writer must 

 excuse me if I am a little incredulous. I was once attending at 

 a petty sessions, when some case or other came on, I forget 

 what, but the question was asked (the people were quite in a 

 hiunble rank), "My good man, are you married, now?" A little 

 woman in a shawl immediately called out, " Yes, sir, he is, and 

 here's the baby," at the same time holding up as high as she 

 could an infant of a very few weeks old. The laugh can well be 

 imagined, and the marriage was believed in. Now, to believe 

 fully in this account of the polygamy of Pigeons I want to see 

 the babies, not one, but four. The case given by " E. W." is so 

 contrary to all my thirty-five years' experience as a Pigeon- 

 fancier — indeed, I have never known or heard of anything of the 

 kind. I do not for one moment impute the least atom of uu- 

 tnithfulness to " R. W.," but I think by reading his account 

 some links in the chain of evidenca are wanting. That Pigeons 

 may change-over partners, this I believe. "Was this case more 

 than simply such an exchange ? 



" R. W." says, " I believe that the Blue cock regularly took 

 his turn on each nest." Ami to understand that the "I believe" 

 means ** I surmise or think," or that it means " I know for 

 certain ?" Then how could one cock take his turn on each nest ? 

 for Pigeons, cock and hen, sit a regular time. Unless " R. W." 

 not only believes but knows, I must doubt the statement. One 

 cock was evidently the master cock and a great tyrant, as occa- 

 sionally they are. I knew a cock Dragoon that was siich a tyrant 

 no one would keep him, and he was the source of a little income 

 to the dealer who owned him, and sold him over and over again. 



Next as to the hatching. One pair of eggs were broken, and 

 though each contained a bird, the evidence as to variety is 

 at an end. Those that were hatched I should like to have been 

 seen when older, for three weeks is scarcely time to decide 

 between such near colours as Black and Blue, for many Blues 

 are very dark at first. Of the second hiitching "E. "\V." states 

 nothing as to colour, and the shifting to the care of nurses was 

 unfortunate. Knowing how very easily mistakes are made with 

 the best intentions, especially with respect to the habits, &c., of 

 birds, I take the liberty to doubt at present that Pigeons are 

 polygamous. 



I will now briefly notice what I believe is not unusual, the 

 strong preference which some cock Pigeons feel for one certain 

 hen — I mean that one hen has many admirers. Mr. Darwin, I 

 believe, thinks that the brilliant colours of the male birds are 

 intended to attract the females ; on the principle, I suppose, 

 that young ladies at a garrison town are said to have frequent 

 attacks of scarlet fever. Probably he is correct: fine feathers 

 not only make fine birds but also attractive birds. In Pigeons, 

 I think sometimes the male birds are attracted by any special 

 beauty of a female. I had for some years an unusually pretty 

 Buff Baldhead hen, always clean, always trim, and so pretty in 

 colour and shape that strangers were wont to say, even though 

 not Pigeon-fanciers, "What a very pretty bird that is!" Now 

 this Uttle hen was constantly being followed and cooed round by 

 different cocks both mated and unmated ; but to all her admirers 

 she was wholly indifferent, and, like a good moral little ladj', 

 went calmly on with her duties as a wife and mother. I have 

 had the case of a cock bird who was also pestered with an admirer 

 of the opposite sex, and who beat her off for a time, and his 

 lawful mate beat her too ; but in the end, alas ! he yielded, and 

 left his partner to muse on the infidelity of husbands. 



I think that when a Pigeon is attractive he or she is unusually 

 pood-looking. A regular old frump of a hen is not admired. 

 'the cocks who are tempted are lively, spirited, brightplumaged 

 birds, always cooing and showing themselves off to perfection — 

 iu fact, regular " gay birds." It is unfortunate for romance 

 that the class of Dove known as the domestic Pigeon is neither 

 gentle nor always constant, for they habitually fight, and fight 

 pertinaciously, and they break pair occasionally ; while one 

 variety, the Pouter, will forget himself and his mate in a shame- 

 leas manner with at least any unmated hen in the loft, but the 

 Pouter is the most showy and cooing of all varieties, and hence 

 very attractive. — Wiltshike -JIector. 



Pbolipic Tltikev. — My Turkey hen has laid altogether eighty- 

 seveu eggs. She has often remained on the nest for twenty four 



hours at a time, but never properly settled to sit. She has 

 discontinued laying for a few days, and then laid several eggs 

 continuously again. — Waltek Biscoe. 



PIGEONS AT HITCHIN AND EXETER SHOWS. 



I BEGEET I cannot agree with Mr. Fulton, that dealers are the 

 great supporters of shows in the three kingdoms. Let the ama- 

 teurs all retire, and what would be the use of deaUng iu birds ? 

 I for one, with many others, vote Messrs. Fulton, Tardley, &c., 

 intense nuisances as exhibitors, and what we do is this — we 

 find out if we can where they intend to exhibit, and then keep 

 our birds at home, although not being prize-grabbers we 

 cannot afford to help every committee to pay Mr. Fulton's 

 prizes. If dealers would exhibit less we think it would be more 

 to their advantage, audto the advantage of the birds also, which 

 are now shown by dealers uutil they die, no use being made of 

 them as stock during the breeding season. 



As to the judgment at Exeter and Hitchin being reversed, it 

 is quite possible that the condition of the birds was reversed, 

 but as I was not at either show I cannot offer auy remarks upon 

 this ; but one thing I do say, that if the judges are to be judged iu 

 the way they are at present, and with such intense animus that 

 appears to prevail against at least some of them, I should think 

 their services would be discontinued. As to expecting per- 

 fection in them, or anything else in this world, it is simply stuff. 

 If you get them honest that must compensate for their de- 

 ficiencies in awards, and as in these days the names are always 

 published, if you do not like the judge, stay at home. Having 

 acted more than once in the capacity, I kuow how pleasant it is 

 to be surrounded by disappointed grumbling exhibitors, who in 

 nine cases out of ten are wrong. The judges in England are 

 pretty well known, so there need not be much ditficulty about 

 it. I have no personal feeling against either dealer mentioned ; 

 in fact, one I do not know. I believe Mr. Fulton to act as strictly 

 and straightforwardly as a dealer can, but I still think that if 

 dealers exhibited less, lent less, they would fiud amateurs in- 

 crease as well as their business. At present it stands thus, 

 What is the use of showing ? Mr. Fulton is sure to be there. — 

 Obsebveb. 



CLEANSING CAGE WATEE-BOTTLES. 



There are, doubtless, many of your readers lovers of pet 

 birds, as I am, who have been puzzled, as I have been for years, 

 to find the easiest and best method of cleaning the fountain 

 bottles used in most bird cages. To begin, I ought to state that 

 I take care of my birds myself, have been very successful in 

 rearing Canaries, and have seldom lost a bird from disease of 

 any kind. Some have ilown away, poor, silly, little, short-sighted 

 things ; one or two have died of old age, gradually and pain- 

 lessly ; and a favourite hen once died while laying. Then, of 

 course, there have been untoward accidents, such as the attacks 

 of wicked malevolent cats, and twice a cage has fallen down. 

 The first time my poor Dick's leg was broken, and though set 

 with tender care he died. The second time a heu was jolted off 

 her nest with her four young ones, which, as may be supposed, 

 was not good for mother or chicks. Barring these accidents I 

 have been a very successful owner of cage birds. But the 

 fouutaiu-bottles have been one of my life-long difficulties. Of 

 course I like them to be clean and bright, but, in spite of aU 

 my pains, the green (some sort of algse) would accumulate on 

 the insiiles of the bottles, and I found it a long and troublesome 

 business to remove it. At the suggestion of various house- 

 maids I tried egg shells, tea leaves, ashes, paper torn up in 

 small pieces, &c., and at the suggestion of the housemaid's 

 master several kinds of acids. All were effectual in time, but I 

 have often spent an hour in cleaning one bottle. Now, my plan 

 is so easy and so simple, I want to recommend it to all your 

 bird-keeping readers. Put a little common garden soil, say two 

 teaspoonsful, into the bottle, washing it down with water. 

 Half a dozen good shakes will make the bottle quite clean and 

 bright, and remove all traces of green, and a rinse in clean 

 water wOl make it fit for the prettiest little pet bird in the 

 loveliest lady's drawing-room in England. — A LovEii of ai,l 



AsiU.iTED CbEATUBES. 



SUBSTITUTING A LIGUKIAN FOU A COMMON 

 QUEEN. 



I HAVE two stocks of bccs in Woodbury hives, in one of which 

 tho bees had worked across the bars, so that I could not move 

 them. Accordingly, about a fortnight since, I drove the bees 

 into an empty hive, the bars of which were prepared as recom- 

 mended in your " Bee-keeping for tho Many," and I am glad to 

 find they are working theii' combs straight. I intend to feed 

 them well. • ^ i, ■ 



I am desirous of luiowing if I could obtain and join to this 

 stock a Ligurian queen, and if Jhia would be a good time for so 



