JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ April 21, 1S70. 



and within a quarter of an inch of its end ; tbe flight feathers 

 are dark. The beak also must be dark ; the eye of a bright red 

 colour ; tbe legs and feet red, and with dark nails. 



" Silvers are frequently bred from and crossed with Blues, 

 but it is better not to do so, for, as a consequence, too often 

 the produce of such a mixture is a muddle of both, resulting 

 chiefly in the production of birds of a silver colour, with black 

 bars and dark flights, which are, therefore, not regarded as 

 Silvers, but are looked upon as washed-out Blues. True Silvers 

 may be simply described as follows: — Their colour is a sort of 

 whity-brown, or very light drab, with darker drab bars, neck, 

 and flights; they should have light horny bills and nails ; tbe 

 hackle is not so beautifully resplendent as in tbe Blues, tho 

 iridescence being greatly diminished by the drab tint of which 

 their colour consists. Tbe eyes of this variety partake of a 

 rich pearlish kind, without a particle of yellow observable in 

 them. They are a very attractive variety, and good specimens 

 are very scarce, more especially cock birds. 



" Yellows are rather a scarce variety, as they are difficult to 

 breed pure in colour, and good in shape as well, for with close 

 breeding they are sure to degenerate, or if fresh blood is in- 

 fused they will as surely show the white feather, or the slaty 

 rump or thigh ; therefore, they are by no means numerous. 

 Good Yellows should be of an entirely uniform colour, and not 

 yellow as their name signifies, but of a rich sienna brown ; the 

 eye should be of a bright red colour ; the beak flesh-coloured 

 (pinky white). In other respects they should answer the 

 general description of a Dragoon, but in one or two points they 

 often differ, beiog generally coarser in wattle and broader in 

 skull, two points which materially detract from their otherwise 

 admirable appearance. As before said, birds of this variety 

 are not usually good breeders ; their young are very delicate 

 and difficult to rear. The eyes of the young oneB of this variety 

 present a singular appearance when about a fortnight old, being 

 of a transparent pink colour, but they gradually change until 

 the birds are full fledged, when they soon assume the usual 

 colour. 



"Reds, like the Yellows, are scarce, and still more difficult 

 to obtain of a good rich colour. They are generally tinged with 

 blue upon the rump, belly, and thighs ; the beak should be 

 darkish ; the eyes bright red. There are some, although few, 

 excellent specimens of this kind, which are very beautiful, and 

 ought to be prized, the neck, like that of the Archangel, being 

 beautifully enlivened with a rich copper bronze, which adds 

 greatly to its appearance. 



" Whites are very beautiful and very numerous, but perfect 

 specimens are scirce. They should be pure white; have dark 

 eyes, with white lash ; with white beak and nails. Indeed, 

 they should bo quite colourless. Any colour upon them, with 

 the exception of their legs, amounts to a disqualification. This 

 variety is not so extensively kept, from the fact that they are 

 so difficult to keep clean." 



The foregoing was sent to us whilst we were asking Mr. 

 Jones Percivall to favour us with his opinions. Most readily 

 he met our wishes, and furnished us with a portrait of one of 

 his prize Dragoons, but we found that we had no right to 

 publish it, as it had been prepared and issued by our sporting 

 contemporary. At the same time Mr. Percivall sent us his 

 opinions of the characteristics of a perfect Dragoon, and these, 

 from one so celebrated as a breeder of the variety, must not be 

 withheld, and it is highly satisfactory that they so agree with 

 the opinions of tbe Birmingham Society. 



" This bird, I agree with Moore, was originally bred from a 

 crosB between the Horseman and Tumbler, although it has for 

 a considerable period become a distinct breed, promising pro- 

 perties which it would take many pairs to produce. The weight 

 of a Dragoon should be about 1 lb., the colour of a darkish or 

 slaty blue, with a bronze black bar; tbe rump also blue, the 

 white rump being in my opinion one of the greatest defects. 

 The length of face from the inner part of the eye to the tip 

 of the beak should be 1J inch, with the beak wattle well 

 tilted, the beak black and ebony-like, the wattle round the eye 

 perfectly circular and dark-coloured, a pink-looking wattle 

 being decidedly objectionable. Some fanciers contend that a 

 Dragoon should be pink-eyed— that is, that the wattle should 

 not be circular, but that there should be a much larger pro- 

 portion of wattle at the front and top of the eye than at the 

 back. This opinion I hold to be a very erroneous one. What 

 would be said of a Carrier, however good in other respects, if it 

 were pink-eyed ? and if a defect in a Carrier, why not in a 

 Dragoon, which certainly approaches nearer to the Carrier in 

 properties than any other Pigeon ? The head should b6 narrow, 



with the beak a little curved, a long neck, broad and prominent 

 shoulders, and altogether of a racy or Game cock-like appear- 

 ance. — J. Pebcivall." 



Thus we have been able to give from two valuable sources 

 the characteristics of a standard Dragoon. Mr. Percivall's 

 opinion is, indeed, that of one fancier; but it must be re- 

 membered that be has taken prizes at the chief shows in the 

 country for the last nine years, with his strains, with the 

 further result of selling tbem at prices varying from £3 to £9 

 per pair. We think the description of the Dragoon given by 

 tbe Birmingham Columbarian Society is very excellent, save 

 that justice is scarcely done to the beautiful silver colour, by 

 calling it "drab," drab giving the idea of the bird being dark; 

 silver is silver and nothing else, and to be known must be seen. 



TOULTRY AND PIGEON COMPETITIONS 



Tms season of the year, before our poultry and Pigeon shows 

 begin, seems to be a very appropriate time to make comments 

 on the various practices of exhibitors, committees, and judges. 

 Having taken an active part for a long time in the management 

 of one of our leading shows, being a member of committee, as 

 well as an annual exhibitor only at our local competition, I 

 hold, perhaps, an exceptional opinion as regards the incentive 

 to trimming to win. It isvery clear to me that judges, as a rule, 

 put too much stress upon a foul feather, and too readily piss 

 over a magnificent specimen having this paltry defect ; conse- 

 quently there is a great temptation to pluck the objectionable 

 feather. Insert the wedge, and we know how easy it is to go on 

 from pulling out a single feather to making a perfect plumage 

 throughout. If judges would only fairly balauce such a defect 

 with other properties, all would be right. How often have I 

 seen by far the finest specimen in a class thrown on one side — 

 that is, passed over for a fault that could not be detected except 

 by the keen eye and close examination of a judge, and which 

 could be very easily remedied. 



Another remark I would make with all due deference to 

 the gentlemen who so kindly officiate for ns as judges. I 

 have too often seen extra good specimens acknowledged to be 

 first-prize birds disqualified — that is, passed over silently, on 

 account of some mark on a feather, or something seen on a bird, 

 that might indicate the ownership. Now some of our most 

 conscientious judges unhesitatingly disqualify such pens. Does 

 not this seem absurd if they are certain that such marks could 

 not be put for them to know ; or even if they did, should it 

 make any difference in their judgment? Can anyone doubt for 

 a moment, that gentlemen who are called upon to act pretty 

 often during the season do not know the principal prize birds 

 without any private marks ? Surely these gentlemen, who are 

 known and acknowledged to be the most honourable of men, do 

 not require to give this proof of their integrity to the committee. 

 We want to know and see the finest specimens in their respec- 

 tive classes, and in looking over the pens find a first-prize card 

 on a third or fourth-rate bird, whilst in our humble judgment 

 we see a truly grand bird in the next pen, perhaps with no 

 notice whatever — we look in vain to find out how the judges 

 could have made such a mistake, when it turns out a nick had 

 been seen in one of the wing feathers, or a thread was round 

 the bird's leg. If it is necessary to disqualify such pens oil 

 this account, I would suggest that the frizes should not be 

 awarded to inferior birds, but withheld by the committee until 

 they were satisfied as to the intentions of the exhibitor. 



Another incentive to trimming is the increasing prize money 

 that is offered. There seems to be no satisfying the craving of 

 large exhibitors for the money prizes ; medals and cups are now 

 discarded for tho value in money, and these large commercial 

 speculators calculate their chances of gain to a nicety — having a 

 host of birds of all sorts, taking the circuit as systematically 

 and regularly as any merchant or manufacturer might do. We 

 find them exhibiting at several show3 at the same time. 



I also observe this class of exhibitors are those who are crying 

 out about it being unfair for local committees and secretaries 

 to exhibit at their own shows ; that ten per cent, on the prize 

 money should be the utmost entrance fee ; that committees 

 should, if they wish for numerous entries, give large money 

 prizes, &c. I could name a few such exhibitors who have been 

 known to show unfairly repeatedly, and acknowledge so doing 

 unblushingly ; and more than once r have known the dishonest 

 pens claimed, and the unfortunate purchaser exhibiting his 

 newly-obtained treasure in "moranee, and the supposed pair 

 turning out to be two hens or two cocks he has been brought 



