8S4 



JOUBNAL OF UORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 



[ May 9, 1887. 



FOULTKT, BEE, and HOUSEHOLD CHEOXICLE. 



THE ORIGIN OF GAME FOWLS. 

 Great Biiitain is the only country in Europe which pos- 

 BeBses the Game fowl. India and its islands are, probably, the 

 original countries of the Game fowls, and still possess them. 

 Game fowls are also to be found in Spanish America, probably 

 imported thither from Manilla in the Philippine Island.s. 

 Persia and Asia Minor, or Syria, once had them, ind the 

 ancient Greeks and Komans were famous for their Game fowls ; 

 it is likewise said that the Romans introduced them into this 

 country. With the ancient Greeks, the island p.f Rhodes was 

 famous for its lied Game fowls, which were called the Rhodian 

 Beds, and the island of Delos for its Silver-Greys, called the 

 Delos Silvers. Some assert that Game fowls were indigenous 

 to the British islands, and some call them a Roman importa- 

 tion, but it is strange, that if a Roman importation, Great 

 Britain alone, of all the Roman European colonies, should have 

 retained them. This would rather prove that they were origin- 

 ally natives of these islands, though they certainly rather bear 

 the appearance of a tropical or Indian origin. However, they 

 have probably been in this country since its occupation by the 

 Romans. 



It has been asserted that the Gallus Bankiva has been the 

 progenitor of the Game fowls. I incline to the belief ihat the 

 three original colours of Game fowls were those of wild 

 original birds which had been reclaimed from a state of nature 

 at some very early period, perhaps in India. The Gallus Ban- 

 kiva is not lierce enough, nor strong enough, nor large enough 

 to have been the original of our Game breeds, though Bankivas 

 resemble the Black-breasted Red Game. They were, no doubt, 

 the original from which sprung our Bantams, Game Bantams 

 being very like them, especially the Black-breasted Red, though 

 the Bantams are a little smaller than the Bankiva. 



The Gallus Sonnerati, or Indian Jungle fowl, has been men- 

 tioned as the original of the Game, but in this breed the hen 

 has neither the comb nor wattles, and the cock has the peculiar 

 horny structure of the feathers, which show them not to have 

 been the parent stock of our Game breeds, though they are 

 fierce and spirited birds, and are used for cock-fighting bj' the 

 natives of the East Indies. 



The wild Gallus furcatus, or Forked-tailed cock, thoroughly 

 resembles our blue-legged Red Dun Game, having the blue legs 

 and blue dun breast and tail, and is red in the plumage, but 

 the comb in this species is not serrated or lobed, and it has 

 onl.y a single wattle, and, therefore, differs rather too much. 



Game fowls may probably have sprung from the mixture of 

 all the three breeds named, with their own three original wild 

 colours, as many good naturalists believe them to have done. 

 I think, however, that the characteristics differ rather too 

 much, and adhere to the belief that the original colours, which 

 are still to be met with in India, as well as in Britain, were 

 derived from birds reclaimed from the wild state in India or 

 elsewhere at a very early period. Most Indian Game fowls are 

 yellow-legged, but nut all. The specimens lately exhibited by 

 the late Mr. B. P. Brent, appeared to be the true Indian Game. 

 I have already stated that some breeders consider the Grey 

 Game fowls to be a primitive or original colour, but brown of 

 various shades is certainly the original colour in Game hens, 

 and assimilates much the best with the colour of the earth, 

 the foliage and bark of trees, and every natural object, which 

 grey does not. Grey is the wild colour for sea birds, as brown 

 is for land birds, and most good judges condemn grey as an 

 original colour, and agree that the brown hens of different 

 shades, and their red cocks with the greenish dark tails are the 

 only true originals. The Greys, too, always incline much to 

 breed back to the brown hens and red cocks, which shows that 

 these are certainly the true original colours, and grey is often 

 difficult to produce, as in the Game Bantam breeds. Grey is, 

 therefore, most certainly not an original colour as some still 

 erroneously suppose and assert. — Newmarket. 



with the ponltry a show of doge, that no doubt added mnch to the 

 geueral attractions. It mnat be borne in mind that Kpworth is a 

 jjurely agricultural district, aud therefore it formed a matter of agree- 

 able surprise to find that the attendance proved uenrly threefold that 

 of last season. Kverythiug went on most pleasantly, and the nsitors 

 were loud in their congratulations of the Committee. Public con- 

 fidence appears to be now fairly enlisted in support of the exertions of 

 the maiia<^ement, aud several additional annual subscriptions were 

 rcudilv ]>rouiised on the spot. The day proved a most enjoyable one, 

 tliu ueulhei- being bright and sunny, nor did a single spot of rain full 

 in the bxality of the show-yard during the whole time the Sliow was 

 open, although at oue time the subject of anxious apprehension was 

 that a storm was impending. 



The exhibition coops used were those that for many years past have 

 done like duty at the Thorne Show, aud, considering tlie breeding 

 season being now at its height, it was a very remarkable feature that 

 so few pens were vacant. 



The ijuality of the poultry shown was in nearly every class first-rate, 

 and the display of I'iijeoiis included large entries from many of our 

 most spirited exhibitors. This evidently formed a very popular portion 

 of the Exhibition, aud several very uncommon varieties of Toy 

 Pigeons added most materially to the general interest. Bees, busily 

 working in glass hives, formed another attraction, and the display of 

 fresh butter and eggs was remarkably good. On the poultiy pens 

 were arranged a very creditable collection of PaiTots aud other foreign 

 birds in excellent plumage, whilst Canaries and other singing birds 

 natural to our climate were shown in abundance. A few very capital 

 Jtuhhits were also exhibited. It is a most satisfactoij duty to record 

 that not a single accident or mishap occurred in the carrying out of so 

 varied an exhibition, and we especially noticed that within less than 

 an hour from the time of closing every pen was carefully repacked 

 and ready for transit homewards by the next euFuing train. "We 

 were informed by the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Hudson, that by the 

 time of next year's show additional railway accommodation will be 

 secured to Kpworth, which will, no doubt, entice many amateurs to 

 enter the lists who were deterred from so doing on the present occasion, 

 on account of the distance of the Show from the nearest railway station. 

 The care taken of the poultry and other live stock on the ground 

 was all that could be desired, and we entertain but little doubt that 

 with continued perseverance on the part of its promoters, the Shows at 

 Epworth in coming years will prove to become most impoitant agri- 

 cultural meetings. 



Spanish.— First, T. Rogers, Walsall. Second, Rev. W. J. Mellor, Colwiok 

 Rectory, Nottingham. Commended, T. E. Hitchen, Sheffield. 



DoRKiNos (Any colour).— First, Mrs. Jeffersou, Epworth (Grey). Second, 

 G. Oldflcld, Epworth. 



Game ( Any variety).— First and Second, Messrs. Sales & Bentley, Crowle. 

 Highly Commended, J. R W. Harrison, ^l)aldinB (Blocli Red). Com- 

 mended, W. H. Wheeler, Carlton, near Nottingham Duckwinp.) 



CocniN-CHlNA (Anv colour). — First, J. H. Dawes (Cinnamon). Second, 

 Rev. W. J. Mellor (White). Commended, W. U. Wheeler (Partridge.) 



Brahma Pootras (Light or Dark).— First, Withheld. Second, Rev. 

 W .J. Mellor. 



Hamburghs (Gold or Silver-spangled).- First, Messrs. S. & R. Ashton, 

 Mottram. Cheshire (Goldent. Second, C. Gravil, jun. Commended, J. F. 

 Loversidge. Newark (Golden). 



Hambl-rghs (Gold or Silver-pencilled). — First, W. Bearpark, Ainderby- 

 Steeple, Nortliallerton (Silver). Second, Withheld. 



Gaue Bantams (Any colour).- First and Second, R. Bentley, Finning- 

 ley Park (Bhick Red, Duckwiug). Extra Second, H. Cawood (Black Red). 

 Highly Commended, J. H. Dawes (Black Red). Commended, T. Rogers, 

 Wnlsall ; C. Gravil, jun., Thorne. 



BAKTAjrs (.Vny other varietv). — First, T. Burgess, Yorkshire (Black). 

 Second, Messrs.' s. & R. Ashton (Silver-laced). Highly Commended, R. 

 Bentley (White .Tapanese); T. C. Harrison, Hull (Gold-laced); Messrs. 

 S. & R. Ashton (White). 



Any other Distinct Breed or Farmvard Cross. — First, Mrs. J. Cross, 

 Brigg (Creve Coeur). Second, Withheld. 



Gasie Cock (Any colour).— First and Second, Messrs. Sales & Pentley. 

 Highly Commended, E. Brough, Leek (Brown r.ed) ; W. Bearpark, North- 

 allerton. 



Cock (Anv other breed).- First, J. H. Dawe6-(Buff Cochins). Second, 

 T. Rogers, Walsall. 



Hen (Any other breed).— First, Messrs. S. & E. Ashton (Golden-spangled) 

 Second, C. .Addev, Epworth. 

 Guinea FowLS.-First, T. C. Harrison, Hull. Second, J. H. Dawes. 

 Turkeys.- First, Rev. W. J. Mellor. Second, R. Bentley. Highly Com- 

 mended, Mrs. S. A. Wroot, Levels. 

 Geese.- First, — White, Thorne. Second. Rev. W. J. Mellor. 

 Ducks (Aylesbury or Rouen).— First, — White (Rouen). Second, J. W. 

 Harrison, Spalding i F^ouen.) 



Ducks (Any other Breed or Cross).- First and Second, T. C. Harrison 

 (Pintails, Grey CiU Ducks). Highly Commended, J. W. Harrison (Wild 



SELLixr, Cr.Ass (Anv variety). — First, T. Rogers, Walsall (Spanish). 

 Second, G. Yates, Th'orne (Black Red Game). Third, Messrs. S. & B. 

 Ashton (Silvcr.pencilled Hamburgh). 



Extra Prize for best pen of Poultry (a Painting of Game Fowls).^ 

 Messrs. Saltmarsh ti Bentley, Crowle (Brown Red Game.) 



EPWORTH POULTIiY AND PIGEON SHOW. 



Although the meeting that took place on the 3rd instant was only 

 the second Show that has been held under the managemeut of the Ep- 

 worth Committee, it proved itself fully equal to many other shows 

 that have boasted a longer standing by many years. The entries on this 

 occasion were fully double those of the year preceding, aud anxious to 

 meet the wishes of all supporters, the Committee had wisely connected 



PIGEONS. 



Cart.ieks.- Eirst, H. Y'ardley, Market Hall, Birmingham. Second, J. 

 W. Harrison. Commended, H. Brown, Sheffield ; J. R. Jessop, Hull. 



Pouters. — First. H. Yardley. Second, J. Taylor, Newark. Highly 

 Commended, H. Brown. Commended. T. Burgess, Britihouse. 



Tumblers Anv variety).— First, T. Statter, Hull. Second, H. Yardley. 

 HiRhly Commended, U. Cawood (Beards): T. Burgess (Almonds). 



Fantails, — First. T. Ellington, Woodmansy, Beverley. Second, H. 

 Yardley. Highly Commended, H. Yardley. 



