228 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



[ Septomhcr 19, 1867. 



sent by " D. D." From the position of my apiary it is almost 

 impossible that the bees could ha'i'e had access to a treacle- 

 cask, although the honey closely resembles it. 1 attribute this 

 phenomenon entirely to honeydew, which has been very plenti- 

 ful in this district this autumn, and in several instances I 

 have seen the bees gathering it. Another super I removed at 

 about two miles distant from the first, the honey is not so bad, 

 but still very dark and not good flavoured. — G. L. 



NEW BOOK. 



On the Mana/ji'mcnt and Preservation of Game, and Ornamental 

 Birdx, and tltc Laws relating thereto. London : Bemrose 

 and Lothian, 21, Paternoster Row. 



The first few days in September seem a very suitable time 

 to look into a new book on game. While the sound of the 

 sportsman's gun is actually in my ears as I write, and I see the 

 beaters run to pick up the unhappy, or, shall I say happy, par- 

 tridges ; for remember how carefully they are preserved from 

 anything that can harm them during so many months of the 

 year ; and then, although they have to run the gauntlet with 

 the shooter, yet how many escape ! yea, only a certain number 

 are permitted to be killed, and those that are killed die in no 

 vulgar way, and by no vulgar hands. Then when dead the 

 partridges are stiU held in honour — they are made presents of, 

 they are received with pleasure, and on the table how they are 

 praised ! so we will call them happy partridges. 



The book, the name of which is at the head of this article, 

 is one of a new series of works for the country, and is both 

 cheap and full of information on a subject which was formerly 

 only to be read of in expensive works on natural history. It 

 is a good sign in this so-called artificial and highly polished 

 age that the love of nature still holds sway over the mind, 

 yea, that this influence is increasing. A Frenchman makes a 

 fortune, and lives in Paris ; an Englishman makes a fortune, 

 and lives in the country. This is a more healthy taste ; the 

 yearly advancing love of poultry among us, and the new 

 books published, all point this way ; and now we have a little 

 manual on game and ornamental birds to help forward the 

 good cause. 



The pheasant is first spoken of, that grandest of acclimatised 

 birds, useful hints on rearing them are given, together with a 

 description and engraving of a pheasantry. Naturally enough 

 after the pheasant comes the partridge, of which much is told 

 ns : among other things, how tame it becomes, and this in- 

 stance is given: — "One would attend the pastor at breakfast, 

 receive food at any hand that would give it, stretch itself out 

 before the fire, and enjoy its warmth ; but at length it fell a 

 victim to that decided foe of all favourite birds — a cat ; the 

 dogs were too generous to molest it." 



Other game birds are then spoken of, among others the 

 capercailzie, that splendid fellow, now introduced with suc- 

 cess in some of the most -wooded parts of the Scotch High- 

 lands. Mr. Poyntz, the former owner of Cowdray Park, Sussex 

 (a graphic account of which appeared recently in this Journal, 

 and a trae account as well, as I can attest from personal know- 

 ledge), tried to make the capercailzie at home on his own 

 estate, but in vain. I was startled at seeing stuffed specimens 

 of this grand bird in different cottages in the village of Ease- 

 bourne, a former cure of mine, and lying clcse to Cowdray 

 Park. 



The part about fen birds is to my mind the most interesting 

 portion of the book, though I fear the ruff and reeve, common 

 enough in my day in the fens of Cambrideshire, are no longer 

 to be found; for the simple reason, the fens are drained. 

 Thirty years ago an old man, Roger Addison by name, living 

 on the verge of " The Wash, "-who gained his living by shooting 

 fen birds and snaring eels and pike, was one of my boyhood's 

 friends. He dressed sailor-fashion ; his cottage was a sort of 

 Robinson Crusoe hut — guns, snares, fishing tackle, and stuffed 

 decoy-birds hung on the walls or were upon the shelves. 

 Specially did I marvel at the long gun, a cannon in bore, 

 which when on duty was fastened into the boat, the boat being 

 a little, narrow, cocked-hat-shaped craft, along which he lay 

 on his stomach with shoulder to his gunstock. This old man 

 — very rheumatic, and no wonder — took to a lad who showed 

 an interest in his calling. He was the last of a family who 

 had for generations been such as he was ; but he was wont to 

 speak of his father's and grandfather's times as being " the 

 good times," for no drainage had taken place then. Old Roger 

 used to speak of the little square gravestones in the church- 



yard raised to the memory of his ancestors, and the last line of 

 the newest stone ran thus : — 



" Old Roger to come.'' 

 A few years later I was in that churchyard, and the line then 

 read — 



" Old Roger ks come." 



This old man first made me acquainted, among other birds, 

 with those graceful feathered creatures ruffs and reeves, who 

 easily betrayed their haunts by having, what I may call, their 

 cockpits. 



The redshank, another elegant fen bird spoken of in this 

 book, is, I fear, now quite extinct. 



After the web-footed fen birds there are some interesting 

 chapters about the hare, the fox, and the stag. Concerning 

 the last-named, we have this amusing anecdote : — " Of the 

 stag's courage, when personal safety requires it, may be in- 

 stanced the combat promoted by William, Duke of Cumberland, 

 many years since, in an area where a stag was enclosed with a 

 hunting tiger (chetar ?). Into an area, 15 feet high, an old stag 

 was turned ; the tiger was led in hoodwinked by two blacks 

 that had the care of him, and his eyes and himself at once set 

 at liberty. The instant he saw the deer he crouched down on 

 his belly, and, creeping like a house-cat at a mouse, watched 

 an opportunity of safely seizing his prey. The stag, however, 

 warily turned as he turned, and this strange antagonist found 

 himself opposed to his formidable brow-antlers. In vain the 

 tiger attempted to turn his flanks — the stag out-generalled him ; 

 and this cautious warfare became so tedious, that the Duke 

 desired the tiger might be goaded on to the attack. It was 

 done, when immediately, instead of attacking the stag, with a 

 furious and elastic bound he sprang at and cleared the place, 

 and crossing the road, rushed into the opposite, and fastening 

 upon a fallow deer, brought it to the ground ; having satiated 

 his rage and hunger, he was easily secured by his keepers." 



I forgot to mention that this little work has numerous and 

 very life-like illustrations, and is well suited to be placed in the 

 hands of all lovers of natural history. — Wiltshire Rectok. 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



Pheasants Eating- titetr Feathers (Chinese P/tecwani).— Your birds 

 lack something, but you will no more cure them of eating feathers by 

 f-ivinff them horse-flesh, than you would a drunkard by supplying him 

 with drink. There is an age when they want something, and will not be 

 satisfied unless they obtain that, or a substitute for it. Auts' eggs are the 

 real satisfier. If they cannot be had. scoured gentles will sometimes 

 answer the purpose. Give the greatest possible change of food, and all 

 of a cooling nature. You may, in the way of animal food, give worma, 

 but nothing else. We should fear you have been in the habit of giving 

 raw food ; and having withheld it they seek to eat each other. It is not 

 the feather they wnnt. but the bleeding ptub, as that is most like raw 

 meat. There is no bird that cannot be train&d to eat its fellows by being 

 fed on raw meat for a long time, and then deprived of it. A Pheasant 

 or a fowl will either of them stand still while its fellows eat it, even to the 

 death. 



PEACoarB {Brahma Cock). — A peacomb should not be high nor coaxse, 

 Ih or 2 inches is ijuite high enough. It should be thick at the base, and 

 fixed firmly on the head. The centre should have some blunt serrationa. 

 On either side, halfway between the base of the comb and its top, shonld 

 be the distinct impression of another comb, similar to the centre, jffO- 

 jecting merely, but in no way detached. 



Craven Poultky Show. — "' The correspondent who sent nn account of 

 the Craven Show, stated that the second prize was awarded to J. Scott, 

 of Sldpton, for Game Bantams, which is not correct. The second prize 

 was awarded to me in adults.— Thomas Hartley, Earhy.'^ 



Food fob Pigeons (TT'. H. B i. — Tares, if old, are perhaps the best food 

 for Pigeons. As to linseed, it has been found in Germany that after the 

 linseed harvest Pigeons are frequently ill, and die of dinrrhcea; so that 

 we would advise you to give it with a sparing hand, and add a few hand- 

 fuls of common dry rice to your compound of tares, linseed, peas, and 

 barley. 



Bee Flowers (Cor?i»&J»i).— White Clover, Saiutfoin. Trifolium incar- 

 natum. Buckwheat, Heath, Lime, fruit trees of all kinds, Raspberry, 

 Gooseberry, and Currant j Laurustiuus, Borage, Mignonette, and Nepeta 

 Mussiuii. 



Pot Pourri (South Lincolnshire^. — Gather the petals of the most fra- 

 grant lands of Roses, with which other flowers may be mixed at pleasure 

 in smaller proportion ; spread them out to dry in the sun, or in a warm 

 room ; sprinkle a little salt on them, and put them into a jar, in which 

 they are to be kept covered up till wanted for use. Take of these Rose 

 leaves 4 oza. ; dried Lavender flowers, 8 ozs. ; vanilla, cloves, storax, and 

 benzoin, all bruised, of each 1 drachm; ambergris, 20 grains; otto ol 

 roses, 20 drops. Mix. 



POULTRY MARICET.— September 18. 



Our supply still continues o be a very limited one. Young Grouse 

 are very scarce, and, so far as can be judged at present. Partridges are 

 the same. Tliere is little trade, nor does there seem to he any prospect 

 of change either in supply or prices. 



