March IH, 1869. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTieULTUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



201 



Brahmas were one of the chief attractions of the Show. Hamhurfjhs 

 of all kinds competed in one geuernl class — a feature which will, no 

 doabt, be improved upon in fntnre years — the Golden-spangled being 

 the varietv tiikinp the first prize. The Bantam,^ comprised a marvel- 

 lous class, and had it been subdivided almost every variety would havo 

 been well represented. The tirst prize was given to Dnclcwiuf; Game, 

 the second to a pen of first-rate Gold-laced Sebrights, and the third to 

 Blacks. Cochins -^f^ro good, the Whites especially; and the Selllnp 

 Class contained thirty-eight pens, .ind certainly a pood numljpr of 

 cheap bargains were offered, sales proving numerous. The French 

 varieties were favoured by an especial class, and they well desen-e it ; 

 the Cri've-Cours were unusually good. Mr. P. H. Jones, of Kulham, 

 obtained the silver cup for the winner of the greatest number of prizes ; 

 and we cannot avoid mentioning that the cups were intrinsically of the 

 value stated, as it is a pleasing contrast to many instances that have 

 occurred, in which the real value aud the assumed one havo been 

 widely diJi'erent. 



Mr. James, the Hon. Secretary, strove to insure success for this 

 meeting, his attention to his duties, though arduous, being of the most 

 untiring character, and his unvai-ying courtesy to a concerned was 

 beyond praise. A very good collection sen by thi gentlemen was 

 not for competition. 



THE BIRMINGHAM miLOPERISTERON 

 SOCIETY. 



This was only the second annual meeting of this local Society, 

 although parties from any part of the kingdom may become exhibitors, 

 if members of the club. Only about a dozen and a half exhibitors 

 competed, but as they form many of the most prominent fanciers of 

 Pigeons, the interest was very great indeed, and the quality of the 

 Pigeons shown was ven- far beyond the average of such meetings. 



The Carrier fi-vtere an extraordinarily strong portion of the exhibition ; 

 in fact, they have seldom at any Birmingham show been equalled. In 

 cocks, Blacks took all three prizes, but in the hen class. Duns partook 

 of the honours. Ponti rs were most commendable, the Whites especially 

 80 ; in fact, the first-prize hen was a perfect gem, and was very generally 

 admired, being a bird of excellent quality throughout. In I^fmfailf:, 

 which as a class was most excellent. Blues were the successful colour 

 in both instances ; three pens of "White ones and one of Blacks being 

 highly commended. Almo7u!s were good, the cock in the. second-prize 

 pen being the best bird of the breed shown, the hen, however, shows too 

 much white in both tail and flight feathers to mate with so good a 

 companion. The Short-faced Ttnnhlcrsy the Beards and Balds were a 

 capital class. Of Jnrohins and Xuns we can say but little, except that 

 we have frequently seen much better. Turhifs were a first-rate class. 

 Mr. T. Robson, of Pcnkridge, was very properly *' disqualified," and a 

 card appended to his birds, for showing two hens as a pair in this 

 variety. Both Foreign and also English (9Wswere very good. Barhs 

 were as fully worthy of especially favourable mention. Tn'mpcfers 

 with a good entry embraced all the colours commonly exhibited. 

 Draf/oons, Anttcer^'s, Magpies, and the Extra class were well filled. 



Besides some dozen pens oi various breeds, Mr Yardley exhibited 

 three very large cages of Pigeons, each containing fifteen specimens, 

 they were respectively Barbs, Can-icrs, and Short-faced Tumblers. 

 None of these birds were for competition ; hut being of very superior 

 quality, we are informed many changed ownership. 



The weather was scarcely favourable for a large attendance, but still 

 the visitors present expressed great satisfaction. 



Mr. Edward Hewitt, and Mr. Yardley, both of Birmingham, officiated 

 as Arbitrators of all varieties except the Tambler Pigeons for fiying 

 purposes. 



Carriers.— Cocts.—l, G. F. Whitehouse. 2, T. Robson. 3, G. Sturgess 

 he, F. F. Foster. H,iis.—1 and 2, G. Sturgess. 3, C. Barnes, he, T. 

 Robson; J. E. Cleveland. 



Pouters. — Cocks.— \, 2, and he, G, Sturgess. Herw.— 1, Cup» and 2, G. 

 Sturgess. c, G. F. Whitehouse. 



Fastajxs.— 1, G. Sturgess. 2. F. Graham, ftc, H. Adams ; F. F. Foster ; 

 G. Sturgess. c. G. F. Wliit»phouse. 



Almonds.— 1 and Cup, F. Graham. 2 snd he, H. Adams. 



Balds oh Beards.— 1, J. W. Edge 2, F. Graham. 



Any other Variety (Short-faced).— 1, F. Graham. 2, G. Sturgess. 

 3, J. W. Edge. 



_ Jacobins.— 1, F. Sale, he, J. W. Edge. 

 I NcNs.— 1, F. Graham, 2, G. F. Whitehouse. 



Tcrbits.— 1 and 3, F. Sale. 2 and 4, F. Graham, he, J. W. Edge. Dis- 

 qualified, T. Robson. Two Hens. 



Owi-s (Foreign).— 1, Cup. and 2, F. Graham. 



Owls (EngUsb).— 1, J. Watts. 2, F. Sale. 3, F. F. Foster, he, J. W. 

 Edge. 



Barbs.— 1, Cup, and 2, F. F. Foster, he, J. W, Edge : F. F. Foster. 



Trumpeters.— 1 a.nd 2, T. Robson. 3, F. Sale, c, J. Watts. 



Magpies.— 1, F. Sale. 2, G. F. Whitehouse. he, T. Robson. 



Dragoons (Blue).— 1, F. Graham. 2, G F. Whitehouse. he. J. W. Edge. 



Dragoons (Yellow).—! and Cup, F. Graham. 2, J. W, Edge, he, F. 

 Sale ; G. F. Whitehouse. 



Dragoons (Anv other colour).—!, F. Sale. 2, J. W. Edge. 3, T. Robson. 

 ftc, G. F. Whitehouse : J. Watts ; J. F. White. 



Antwerps.— 1, F. Graham. 2, F. F. Foster, e, F. Sale. 



Swallows.— 1, J. Watts. 2, G. Sturgess. 



Fancy Pigeons (Anv other variety).— 1. Cup, and 2, F. Sale. 3, F. F. 

 Foster, he, G. F. Whitehnuse. r. F. Graham ; J. Watts. 



Antwerps.— Co c A-.— 1, F. F. Foster. 2, J. E. Cleveland. 3. C. Bameg. 

 he, J. W. Edge. 



Badoes (Black).—!, H. Sproston. he, J. Sanders. 



Badges (Blue).— Prize, J. W. Edge. 



Saddles Black).—!, F. H. Warden. 2. J. Sanders, he, 3. W. Edge. 



Saddles (Blue).—!, J. W. Edge, he, H. E. Y'atea. e, J. Sanders. 



Saddles (Anv other colour).—!, J. W. Edge. /le.F. H, Wardeo. 



KosEWiNGS AND REDBREASTS.—!, J. Saudors. c, J. W. Edge. 



COLOURING CANARIES. 



BiRPS do not use sand to wash themselves in, and I feel snro 

 ninety-nine out of a hundred birds that wash would not go and 

 roll in the sand until they were dry, and even then only to 

 dust their feet. SupposiuR they did manage to have such a 

 sandy bath, they would not look as if they had been artificially 

 coloured with the view of escaping detection. " 11. D." mast 

 remember that the birds which have been detected having 

 colouring on them at the various exhibitions, have almost de- 

 ceived the most experienced judges, and therefore it is quite 

 impossible for that colouring to be the means of sand or gravel. 

 I well remember about two years ago at the Sunderland Show 

 certain Norwich birds were thought to be coloured from the 

 very suspicious look about them, and one of the judges, not to 

 be baffled, applied with his white handkerchief hot water and 

 soda to them, and not until then did the colour come off, which 

 it did in abundance. I afterwards saw the handkerchief that 

 was used, and the colour on it very much resembled " Judson's 

 Dye," but certainly not sand or gravel. I am sorry to say 

 Norwich are not the only birds artificially coloured ; Lizards I 

 know have had different kinds of dark fluids applied to them, 

 and have also been detected. The Lizards in question were 

 sent to one of the Crystal Palace Shows by an exhibitor not a 

 thousand miles from the metropolis. Clear-crested birds have 

 had their crests dyed, and been shown for Variegated-crested, 

 these have also been detected. I am only pointing out these 

 remarks to " II. D.," to show him the impossibility of sand 

 producing any other colour on birds but that of a muddy hue, 

 and even then it would not require soda and water to extract 

 it.— A. G. B., Derby. 



NOTES ON GOLDFINCH MULES AND 

 MULE-BREEDING.— No. :'.. 



Anyone fond of Goldfinches or Linnets would do well at this 

 particular period to obtain for them some fresh groundsel or 

 dandelion, to assist in bringing them forward for the season 

 fast approaching for Mule-breeding. 



To attain success every attention must be paid to the birds, 

 not only at the time of breeding, but during the winter, for it 

 is essential that the birds should be well attended to and their 

 diet at times changed. By this means you are laying the 

 groundwork for the breeding season by keeping your stock in 

 good condition. 



More than the usual quantity of canary andhempseed rations 

 should now and then be given. Vary it with a little flax, 

 millet, groats, maw seed, coarse Scotch oatmeal, an egg passed 

 through a sieve, with a stale plain bun or a sponge cake, or 

 even carrot and beetroot may be given. Of this food they will 

 readily partake. Now and then soak a piece of bread in cold 

 water, then squeeze out the water, add a few drops of cod-liver 

 oil, and supply to each partition a piece as large as a nut. All 

 these things 1 find good, and they keep my birds in condition, 

 and in a great measure prevent that asthmatical complaint 

 many are subject to. 



Having obtained a Goldfinch cook, say a two or three-year- 

 old bird, and a hen of some promise — a likely one to throw or 

 breed Mules clear, or as nearly clear as you would wish — 

 you will in May begin, or try, to breed with them. Breeding 

 in eages I prefer for Mules, owing to the birds being more 

 under control, especially the Goldfinch, which is at times very 

 busy at destroying the eggs when he has an opportunity. Of 

 course this applies more to some Goldfinches than others. I 

 have had cocks which behaved very well, remaining with the 

 hens during the whole of the laving, sitting, and the rearing of 

 the young, and they are excellent feeders when they act kindly 

 and as a parent should. By breeding in an open room, having 

 half a dozen hens and a couple of Goldfinches, perhaps one or 

 both may be mischievous, by either pulling to pieces the whole 

 of the nests, leaving the eggs only in the box or basket, or by 

 destroying the eggs. On attending to my birds one day I saw 

 portions of egg-shells, and knowing by reference to my note- 

 book that the usual time was not up for chipping, I looked in 

 four or five nests, and not an egg was to be seen whole. I 

 knew at once what had happened, and on further search saw 



