GOLDEN-SPANGLED HAMBURGHS. 



437 



ally hardy, and capital layers. The spangling 

 was bold and of a glossy green-black, but of a 

 cresccntic rather than round form (H, Fig. 126) 

 and the ground-colour was of a light dull bay, 

 and generally there was a good deal of pepperi- 

 ness in the ground-colour,* so that the spangling 

 was often not clear and sharp-looking, especially 

 in the tail-coverts. As a rule this variety had 

 whitish ear-lobes. In Lancashire there was 

 another variety, cultivated chiefly by the weavers 

 and colliers. This was called the Golden 

 Mooney ; it was a much smaller bird, but for 

 colour and marking threw the Yorkshire 

 Pheasant entirely into the shade. The ground- 

 colour of the plumage in these fowls was of the 

 very richest bay, the spangling very bold and 

 clear, and of a green satin-looking black ; in 

 fact, the plumage was so rich and glossy that 

 the full beauty of it could not be seen except in 

 the sunshine, but when thus seen formed a pic- 

 ture never to be forgotten. This applied to the 

 hen ; the plumage of the cocks was also of the 

 very richest description, but their great draw- 

 back was their red ear-lobes and black breasts 

 — in fact, they had no ear-lobes at all to speak 

 of, but merely a bit of red skin like a Game 

 cock. These cocks were never shown, but 

 merely kept for breeding purposes. Shows were 

 held in many of the village public-houses in 

 Lancashire, the competitors being mostly colliers 

 and weavers of the district, to whom is entirely 

 due the credit of bringing the celebrated Mooney 

 marking to such perfection. At these shows 

 hens only were shown, of both Golden and 

 Silver Mooneys and Black Pheasants, but far 

 the most usually it would be one of the Mooney 

 breeds. The birds were judged by a scale of 

 points agreed on by members of these village 

 clubs, the first definite points ever drawn up ; 

 and the points were so well understood by all 

 that any disagreement about the judging 

 scarcely ever took place. One of the foremost 

 men at these village clubs was old Jack 

 Andrews, or, as they called him in Lancashire, 

 " The Ould Poo't," meaning " The Old Pullet." 

 Another fine old fancier and breeder was Nathan 

 Marlor ; and breeders and fanciers of both 

 the Spangled varieties are much indebted to 

 these two men, who have been greatly instru- 

 mental in bringing the Mooney to such a state 

 of excellence. 



Both the breeds thus described being in 

 existence at the early time we have been speak- 

 ing of, the Lancashire Mooney hens were first 

 shown with the Yorkshire hen - feathered 



* This was probably the reason why in some of the old books 

 on Poultry, "Copper Moss" is given as another local synonym 

 for the Golden-spangled Hamburgh. 



cocks ; but when the judges set their faces 

 against the hen-feathered birds (and their reign 

 was very short), the Yorkshire Pheasant's career, 

 as an exhibition bird, was over. 

 Golden"^ After that the cocks shown with the 



Spangles. Mooney hens were at first of the full- 



feathered Yorkshire breed ; but 

 neither pure variety possessed the points of 

 excellence required. The Yorkshire Pheasant 

 was dull in ground-colour and not distinct in the 

 spangling; while the Mooneys, especially the 

 cocks, had almost black breasts and red ear- 

 lobes, and if anything (especially in a room) 

 were almost too deep and rich in the ground- 

 colour. The necessary change began first with 

 the cocks. In the first place the Yorkshire 

 cock was put to the Mooney hens, and by care- 

 ful and judicious crossing a bird was produced 

 having somewhat of the richness in plumage of 

 the Mooney, at the same time retaining the 

 spangled breast and whitish ear-lobes of the 

 Pheasant. These were the cocks for some time 

 shown with Mooney hens. After a time, how- 

 ever, as the competition became keener, and 

 richness of plumage became the chief point 

 requisite to success, a little more of the Mooney 

 blood was introduced ; and at the present day 

 cocks are bred which leave little to be desired 

 either in that point or in ear-lobes, which have 

 been by careful breeding brought to a perfection 

 neither breed originally had. The hens also 

 were operated upon, the red ears of the pure 

 Mooney being found an eyesore. To remedy 

 tlis a dash of the Yorkshire Pheasant blood was 

 introduced, which also had the good effect of 

 giving a very slightly lighter tint to the ground- 

 colour ; and by this crossing, and judicious 

 selection, hens also have been produced that 

 combine all the richness of the Mooney with a 

 slightly lighter ground-colour and a somewhat 

 whiter ear-lobe. As in the preceding variety 

 breeding from the pure Yorkshire Pheasant is 

 now quite discarded. 



For breeding pullets the beginner should 

 get the very best hens from an exhibition point 

 of view that he can lay his hands upon ; there 

 is not much need to inquire about the strain, as 

 in a hen this will speak for itself; but if better 

 heads and ear-lobes than usual can be secured 

 all the better, and also what is possible in the 

 way of size. Then let him get a cock from 

 some good breeder out of a well-known pullet 

 strain, and if possible somewhat related to the 

 hens or pullets he is breeding from ; for birds 

 bred thus akin produce by far the most perfect 

 specimens. Then if these birds produce first- 

 class chickens, keep them together and breed 

 from them as long as possible, and do not 



