November 28, 1867. ] 



JOUBN.VL OF HOKTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEB. 



413 



pulled out, thronRh, I apprehend, the carelesBness and rongh 

 treatment of the Society's servants in removing the hirda from 

 their travelling baskets to the exhibition cages? What iu- 

 dasement is there for exhibitors residing at long distances to 

 send the pick of their yards if proper care is not bestowed upon 

 them by the officials employed ? ,The annoyance, loss, and 

 mortification felt and expressed by several of the exhibitors at 

 this celebrated Show, will go far cither to suppress these shows 

 altogether, or to render them bo insignificant as virtually to 

 destroy their utility. 



I venture to suggest, as a remedy against future injuries of 

 this kind, that all exhibitors should have their birds shown in 

 their own pens. If a "registered' form of basket, uniform 

 in design, weight, colour and size could be approved by the 

 Committees of the principal shows, there would be then no oc- 

 casion to handle the birds, either for weighing or other piu-- 

 poses. They could leave their own homes and return to them 

 without any removal from the basket. Thus, at any rate, the 

 beautiful streamers (the pride of many of our varieties), and 

 the tails of all birds would not suffer the injuries they now do. 



A prize for the best design might be offered at Birmingham 

 or Manchester. — Bristol. 



[We fear that if every exhibitor had to provide his own ex- 

 hibition-pens, it would reduce the number exhibited much 

 more than does the fear of injuries, which injuries, grievous as 

 they are, amount to a very small per-oentago of the birds 

 shown. The best security against snch injuries would be mem- 

 bers of the Committee supervising the penning and the re- 

 basketing of the birds. — Eds. ] 



JUDGING GAME FOWLS. 



In mj last notes on judging by shape (see page 52), I find I 

 omitted the following points : — "Hocks turning in too much" 

 are a bad and not uncommon defect in shape. The skin of the 

 face of Game fowls should be perfectly smooth, but hard at 

 the same time, and never rough, wrinkled, swollen, or emaciated. 



Eyes must match in colour in the same bird, and some have, 

 by bad crossing, one eye yellowish-red and the other reddish- 

 yellow. The eyes of the Brown Reds should be of the very 

 darkest brown, and not jet black, as in Dark Greys. The 

 pupil of the eye should never be visible in Brown Eeds, the 

 «ye being too dark for it ; where the pupil of the eye is visible, 

 they are crossed and mongrel Brown Eeds. Dark Greys and 

 Dark Birchens and Blacks should have jet black eyes, with the 

 pupil of the eye never at all visible. In all the other breeds 

 having lighter eyes the pupil of the eye is distinctly visible, of 

 course, and always black in colour, the lighter-coloured eyes 

 being flatter outside, and rather smaller, and less round or 

 globular than the full, bold dark eye. The two eyes axe clearly 

 of different origin. The Black Game, I think, derive their 

 red combs and faces from the Black-breasted Eeds. 



In the spread and fan tails the feathers must never bo loose, 

 scattered, or too much detached, bo as to throw daylight between 

 the feathers, but should stand strong and stiff, the feathers 

 touching one another, and such tails are stronger in muscular 

 power than the drooping and closed tails, which are more re- 

 laxed, and less strongly supported. A drooping closed tail, I 

 know, indicates a drooping spirit in the bird. 



The feet of Game fowls should never be thick, short, or 

 clumsy. Claws long, straight, and strong, slender ratlier than 

 in the least clumsy. Ball of the foot never at all clumsy or 

 too large, too round, or too bulky ; the foot set Hat on the ground. 

 Long and spreading strong claws give the bird a good spring, 

 and good hold of the ground in fighting. The back claw should 

 be flat to the ground, and not just touching with its nail or 

 point, as it does when placed too high up ; this causes duck 

 feet most. The insteps never thick, round, or clumsy, but 

 clean and well rounded. Scales of the legs smooth and close, 

 and never rough or coarse. 



The duck foot is often hereditary, and is so termed when the 

 back claw turns sideways, forwards, or underneath the foot. 

 It is often caused by young growing birds being kept on hard 

 flat surfaces. 



Of all the absolute requisites for good Game fowls in shape, 

 a short body stands first as the chief qualification, and for ex- 

 hibition along, sharp, fine head is about the second qualification. 



I think, on the whole, jot black eyes are correct for Brown 

 Eeds, and such birds breed Dark Greys and Dark Birchens 

 easier than the others. 



Gervaso Markham, a very old writer on Game fowls, classed 



them thus : — Bed — red eyes, bluish legs ; Greys — grey eyes, 

 blackish legs ; Yellows — yellow eyes, yellow legs. He saye the 

 female is to be preferred to the male ; but this will only 

 hold good, I think, when crossing Game with any other breed, 

 and not witli Game bred with Game. 



The pearl grey eye, or silver pearl grey eye, is now very rare," 

 and only found in the Silver Jlcaly-grey Duckwings with white 

 legs, which are now seldom seen or heard of. Our old true 

 Greys had this eye, however, but are now almost extinct. — 



NEWlI.WiliET. 



BIRMINGHAM COLUMBARIAN SOCIETY'S 



snow. 



This Society, coufiucd exclusivoly to a few of tbo most noted local 

 breeders, has been within the last few years cBecting an immense 

 amonut of good, iu respect to prodncing almost every variety of Pigeons 

 as closely approaehiug perfection as can well be attained. By the 

 rules all young Pigeons intended for exhibition at the annual Show, 

 at which alone prizes arc offered, are at a certain age printed on the 

 win^-feathers, so that it may be made certain they are bred by the 

 exhibitor ; but iu the classes for old bii-ds. purchased Pigeons of any 

 kind are equally permissible. Under such conditions the emulation 

 among the members is extreme, and their weekly meetings are of a very 

 interesting character. The Show itself is open to the pnblio without 

 any charge for admission, as no respectable perBon ia refused a free 

 entrance, and thus tlic public can enjoy an inexpensive treat not 

 attainable at most of such meetings. It is almost unnecessary to re- 

 mark that the greatest popularity attends this, perhaps the only Pigeon 

 show of any extent in the Slidland Counties, in which all tbo birds 

 shown are of a first-class character. 



On tlie 2'2nd inst. the Biimingham Odd Fellows' Hall was engaged 

 for the Show, and this proves itself to be a step in the right direction 

 as compared with the arrangements of former years, for a better 

 exhibition room could not he desired, and the courtesy of the Com- 

 mittee caused a very largo attendance. One of the most prominent 

 features of the Show was the Pouters, many of which, whilst excellent 

 iu style and colour, measured very nearly '20 inches. The Short-faced 

 Tumblers were extraordinarily good, besides which the Dragons, Car- 

 riers.'and Autwerps were especially worthy of highest approval. In the 

 Toy Pigeons, a very large entry of Satinettes, chiefly bred by the Hon. 

 Secretary, were of such beauty as to secure every one's good opinion : 

 they are comparatively a new introduction, and with Brunettes and 

 Faiiy Pigeons, formed un unusually good variety class. So closely 

 competiug were many of the specimens, that in several instances, extra 

 prizes were given. As at all previous annual meetings Mr. Edward 

 Hewitt, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, was the Abritrator. 



YOUNG BIRDS. 



CARBrEns.— First and Second, F. F. Foster. Third, H. Allsop. 



PocTEP.s.- First nnil Second, F. F. Foster 



TcaiBLEns (.Vhnondl. — First and Second. E. D. Careless. 



TcMBLEES (Loni»-mufred).— First, Second, and Third, E. D. Careless. 



.Tacobins. — First and Second, H. AUsop. 



Faktails.— Prize, J. Kdpc. 



English Owls. — First, Second, and Third, C. Barnes. 



TORBiTs.— First and Third, — Harnes. Second, J. Edce. 



Baubs.— First, Sccoud, and Third, H. .lUlsop. Highlv Commended, 

 F. F. Foster; .J.Ludlow. 



Pragoxs.— First, .T. Edge (Whites). Second and Third, J. Lndlow. 

 Commended, J. Edge. 



Antwebps.— First, J. Bradley. Second, J. Edge. Third, J. Lndlow. 

 nichly Commended, .T. Bradley: H. Noyt. 



Any otuer Variety.— First. Second, and Third, H. Noy^- (Satinette) 

 Highly Commended. E. D. Careless (Black Fairie) ; F. F. Foster (Isabel). 



ADFLT BIRDS. 



CvnaiEBS. — Cocila.— First, C. Barnes. Second, G. Smitb. Hnrbomo 

 Hrnx —First, G. Smith. Second and Third, C. Barnes. Highly Com 

 mended, J. Ludlow; C. Bomcs. 



rooTEiis.—Coc;.*. — First, Second, Third, and Highly Commendedj 

 A. H. Stewart, Harhomo, near Birmingham. Hem.— First, Second, and 

 Third, A. H. Stewart. 



Tcmblebs (Ahnond).— First, A. H. Stewart. Second and Third, E.D. 

 Careless. 



Trjun.Ens f Short-faced).— First and Third, E. D. Careless. Second and 

 Highly Commended. A. H. Stewart. 



TrjTBLERs (Clcarlegpcd).— First, E.D. Careless. Second, G. Smith. 



Tcsiblers (Long-muffed).— First, Second, Third, and Highly Com- 

 mended, E. D. Careless. 



.Tacobins— Prize, H. Allsop. 



FAiiTAiLS. — First, A. H. Stewart. Second, J. Edge. 



Foreign Owls. — Prize, E. D. Careless. 



English Owls.— Fir.«l. .T. Edge. Second and Third, C. Barnes. 



TrRBlTS.— First and Third, C. Barnes. Second, A. H. Stewart. 



Ntrxs. — Prize, A. H. Stewart. 



Barbs.— First ond Third, H. Allsop. Second, J. Ludlow. 



Dragons (Blue).- First nnd Second, J. Ludlow. Third, H. Allsop. 

 Highly Commended. .T. Lndlow. 



Dragons (Any other colonr). — First ond Second, J. Ludlow. 



AXTWP.RPS.— First nnd Third, . I. Ludlow. Second,.!. Bradley. Extra 

 Third, H. Novt-. Highly Commended, .1. Ludlow; J. Bradley. 



Any nrnER V.kriety.— First, H. Novi (Satinettes). Extra First. \. H. 

 Stewart (Fniriesl. Second and Extra Second. F. F. Foster. Third. H. 

 Noyi!- (Satinettes). Extra Third, F. F. Foster (Isabels). Highly Ctim- 

 me'nded, H. Noyc (Brunettes). 



