176 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ March 8, 1S7U. 



feathers of the wing. I would not havo'any white on the heaJ, 

 neck, or back ; for what looks finer than a large, well-spread 

 black rose, large and well-spread Muck-feathered feet, long and 

 strong black flights and tail, and, above all, a broad and fully- 

 developed black breast ? But this is wholly an imaginary bird. 



I believe "Fleer de Lis" (see page 77), not only introduces 

 the question of the standard of the breed, but also that of 

 breeding Trumpeters. I think that there is as much difficulty 

 experienced in breeding good Trumpeters a^ there is in breed- 

 ing good Tumblers, Carriers, Pouterfl, or Barbs. I also think 

 Trumpeters ought to rank next in value to the four above- 

 mentioned varieties in every respect, not only from the diffi- 

 culty in breeding good birds, but from that of keeping them 

 in feather. Next to the Fantail, no other bird is sooner 

 " knocked-np " with showing than the Trumpeter. 



I do not wish to be understood to mean from any of the 

 above remarks, that I consider Trumpeters bad breeders ; on 

 the contrary, I have always found them remarkably fast 

 breeders, and good in rearing their young ; but allowing this 

 to be the case, you may breed a good many in one season, yet 

 how many of them make any near approach to the standard of 

 the breed ? I, of course, speak more to the breeding of Mottles 

 with all their characteristic points. 



A few years ago when I was more of a breeder of the 

 Trumpeter, my experience taught me never to breed from a 

 narrow-headed bird ; for in Trumpeters, more so than iu any 

 other breed, the strength of all properties depends on the 

 stoutness (thickness all over), of the bird. When I say " the 

 strength of all properties," I mean when birds are kept in the 

 best of health and condition, having good food and other things 

 requisite, together with exercise in the pure atmosphere. 



I need hardly mention the fact, that to breed Mottles there 

 must be one parent black and the other mottled, or black and 

 white, constituting each pair. I do not mean to say that dark 

 Mottles are certain to be the result, for it is not exactly as in 

 the case of a painter mixing his colours ; it is quite possible for 

 a very light bird bred from dark ones, paired with a good black 

 bred from "blacks," to breed better Mottles than a very dark 

 mottled one might do ; and it sometimes is found to be the case, 

 as the result chiefly depends upon the parents the birds are 

 bred from. 



There is yet one point more to which Mr. Firth alludes — 

 namely, the decisions given at some of the exhibitions not 

 being satisfactory to the majority of exhibitors. I believe it is 

 the wish of every exhibitor that there be proper valuation 

 given, and universally acknowledged, of every point constitut- 

 ing each standard of the nine leading varieties of fancy Pigeons. 

 I would very much like to know the opinions of the " fancy " 

 on this subject, after which I would suggest principles that 

 might be practically adopted, and make suggestions as to having 

 the matter properly discussed. — Tnos. Rule, Durham, 



SONGS OF OUR BIRDS.— No. 1. 



THE SONG THRUSH. 



No sooner has the new year been ushered in, and the first 

 stray breathings of reviving spring crossed our land, than this 

 princely songster sends forth his summons to the feathered 

 choir. We had the melancholy and cheerful songs of the 

 Robin and Wren during winter, and the lively sweet warblings 

 of the Hedge Sparrow early in January, but the Thrush is the 

 leader of our winged vocalists. There is a very marked differ- 

 ence in the songs of birds of the same species. Among Finches, 

 more particularly, there is a local dialect quite observable, but 

 among Thrushes this difference is to be found in the same 

 locality. We may hear one whose song is coarse, broken, and 

 in a manner monotonous, while that of his neighbour is soft, 

 rich, and flowingly varied. This bird displays a majestic bear- 

 ing both in his appearance and voice. From the shortness of 

 his sentences his song cannot well be compared with the Night- 

 ingale's, and lacking the more flute-like tones, it does not re- 

 semble that of the Woodlark ; still many of his notes are not 

 only remarkable but unsurpassed, and taking him as a whole, 

 his fine noble form, and beautiful though unassuming plumage, 

 the commanding position he takes on the lawn, his bold, rich, 

 and brilliant song — he is a bird preferable to either ; he is no 

 tender summer visitant, no recluse, but a perennial bird of 

 tune. With the first dawnings of an early spring morning we 

 find him from the summit of a lofty tree, and with a power 

 of voice which strikes every ear, proclaiming that " the time 

 of the singing of birds is come." 



The song of the Thrush is composed of sentences, each in a 

 great measure comprising a single, double, treble, or further 

 multiplied note or notes, repeated generally three times, and 

 after a series of those a subdued warble. Besides richness and 

 sweetness, his song is possessed of a grandeur unequalled by 

 that of any other bird of our woods. After some of those full, 

 clear, and spirited notes with which he at all times opens his 

 song, he will rapidly hurl forth the most imperious calls, many 

 of them in wondrous metallic chimes, then, as if suddenly catch- 

 ing himself, give out those sweet undulating glassy-toned strains 

 of conciliation, that float away as if breathing new life on the 

 leafless trees, and inspiring with love the whole tenants of the 

 grove. List to him in the gloamin! What ventriloquism! 

 Do those soft sweet strains proceed from beneath the cope stone 

 of the wall, or from the trunk of the tree upon which he is 

 seated? No, it is his powerful song pent up, and given in 

 passionate whispers to the ear of his mate ; his tongue, as if 

 every now and then striking a silver bell, and his whole articu- 

 lation suited to the hush that reigns, and the close proximity 

 of the object of his affections. With the rising sun he wakes 

 the earth, calling into tune thousands of smaller tongues, and 

 alone in the last rays of dissolving evening he closes with un- 

 rivalled eloquence the day-long concert. 



The Thrush is indigenous to Britain, a bonnie bird, and if 

 taken young from the nest becomes very tame, and is easily 

 kept in confinement. — James Htjie. 



THE CRYSTAL PALACE CANARY SHOW. 



(Concluded from page 155.) 



T.niiihm !-'■'•,< ;,.■:, Class 13 and 14, have increased, and very great 

 care must have been taken to bring the winning specimens to the post 

 in such feather. Messrs. Brodriek, Waller, and Maun were the 

 most successful exhibitors, the first winning the cup with 389, a tine 

 Jonque. I noticed many " sold " tickets in this variety, but whether 

 claimed by the owners or not I do not know. It is a great pity the 

 London Fancy is in so few hands. 



I have seen better Li:.ank, or I am more fastidious. No. 126 (H. 

 Ashton), first prize. Golden-spangled, was a nice bird ; I liked -427 

 better, though there was not much to choose between them. Mr. 

 Judd's 437, secoud prize, was also a good Lizard; but I thought Mr. 

 T. Fairbrass had the " pull " over them all in colour with 431 1. Nos. 

 427 and 423 (Fairbrass) were well-spangled birds. In the Silver- 

 spangled birds the first prize and cup fell to No. 464 (Mr. E. Hawkins). 

 My liking lay iu the direction of 451 (Ashton) or 440 (J. Stephens). 

 But there are many things required to make np a good Lizard, aud I 

 have no doubt the Judges could have given satisfactory reasons for 

 their awards. No. 453 (T. Fairbrass) was rather "run" in the 

 spangles, but was just the right colour, and right sort of bird to breed 

 from — a splendid hen. 



I did not expect to see such a class of Cinnamons. From all 

 accounts the mortality among them has been great, but those exhibited 

 were numerous enough and good enough to meet all requu-emeuts'for 

 the coming season. Mr. Bexson was first with his Jouque cock, which 

 began its winning career at Whitby last September, and has been at 

 every show of character in Eugland since v,i'hout having been beaten ; 

 a good bird, but rather small, as, indeed, all Jonque Cinnamons are. 

 Mr. Vine was secoud with 472, aud. " honour to whom honour is due," 

 I think I am correct in stating that nearly all the winning birds were 

 from his strain. Moore & Wynu showed good stock in this class, and 

 473 (Messrs. Watson & Cockle), very highly commended, was a 

 splendid bird. Mr. Vine took first and cup ; lie and Mr. Bexson shar- 

 ing second honours among the Buffs. Mr. Vine's Buffs were superb, 

 but 491 would have been my cup bird, with 495 (Bexson) tripping np 

 bis heels. The very highly commendeds all earned their diplomas. 



I should like to have seen more exercise of discretionary power in 

 awarding extra prizes in Class 19, " Marked or Variegated Cinna- 

 mons," where some birds of rare merit wero passed over iu favour of 

 ordinary brokeu Cinnamons. Such a bird as 521 (S. Tomes) is not 

 seen every day ; indeed, it is difficult in the extreme to produce such 

 an evenly-marked specimen, and an extra first prize would have been 

 no more than its deserts. The first prize, 528, was a heavily-marked 

 broken bird, but rich in colour, with an " East Cowes " laud of tinge 

 on it. 



The " Any other variety " contained more than forty good, bad, and 

 indifferent. The first and second prizes went to the Laud of Cakes 

 with two Scotch Fancy, shown by Mr. W. Alexander, of Edinburgh — 

 good specimens. Mr. Ashton aud Mr. Young were also very highly 

 commended with the same class of bird. 5511 (Ashton), secoud, was a 

 rare Manchester Coppy, but I think the equal second, 561, St. Helena 

 Seed Finch, hardly comes under the class of Canaries proper while 

 there is a class for any variety of foreign birds. Mrs. W. Slowe's 

 544, Yorkshire hen. third prize, was claimed for the Polefield Hall 

 Mule farm, a fine, lengthy bird, beautifully marked. May she be the 

 mother of another " Edward I.," that most gentlemanly of Mules. 



Class 21, Ydlov; Goldfinch .Vide (Clear for choice).— The first prize, 



