THE DERBYSHIRE REDCAPS. 



439 



closely allied to one of those described under 

 the preceding head. These Redcaps have 

 also been known as " Manchesters," Moss 



Pheasants, and some other syn- 

 Redcaps. onyms besides those mentioned 



below. Many years ago, as Red- 

 caps, they used to have classes at the Sheffield 

 shows, but subsequently dropped out, until 

 more recently revived. They always had a 

 very high reputation amongst those who 



Edensor, Bakewell, who has been largely instru- 

 mental in promoting the interests of the variety, 

 and bred them for many years : 



" The Redcap is one of our oldest breeds of 

 fowls. It has been kept for a great many years 

 in the counties of Derbyshire and Yorkshire, 

 where it has always been most highly thought 

 of, especially for its laying qualities. Recently, 

 however, it has become better known, and it is 

 now largely kept in the United States, Aus- 



Derbyshire Redcaps. 



knew them, as useful fowls, and the late Mr. 

 Hewitt wrote highly of them as such in the 

 first edition of 77^!^ Illustrated Book of Poultry. 

 He mentioned in particular the much better 

 carcase, cocks reaching 'j\ lbs. to 9 lbs., while 

 the meat was tender and delicate ; and the 

 fact that if equal weights of eggs from Spanish 

 and Redcaps were used in custard making, the 

 Redcap eggs went nearly a third further than 

 the others. 



The following short account of Redcaps is 

 kindly supplied by Mr. Albert E. Wragg, of 



tralia, New Zealand, France, Germany, and 

 Belgium. It is generally supposed to have 

 originated in Yorkshire, and is probably a near 

 relation to the Golden-spangled Hamburgh, 

 having been bred more for size and the large 

 comb. Game blood undoubtedly enters into 

 its composition, as the breed is a very pugna- 

 cious one, and a dubbed Redcap cock might 

 almost be taken for an Old English Game 

 cock. It has been known by many different 

 names, such as Pheasant Fowls, Crammers, Cop- 

 per Fowls, Yorkshire and Derbyshire Redcaps. 



