432 



JOUBNAIi OF HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ December 3, 1868. 



Pigeons : Mr. J. Muir, GlaFRow ; Mr. G. White, Paisley ; Mr. G. 

 Ure, Dundee ; Mr. J. Hnie, Glasgow. 



PIGEONS AT THE NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE 

 SHOW. 



The Pouters comiinfieii some splendid birds. The most noticeable 

 aniODgst them were the "Whites of ifr. Fulton ; both cock aud ben 

 ■were extremely good in nil iioiuts. Next to these was a Black hen of 

 Bplendid etyks and the largest blower I ever saw, but rather deficient 

 in limb. A Bine cock and a Red hen were also very flue. All the 

 above won firvt prizes in their separate classes, and belonged to Mr. 

 Fulton. In Yellow hens Mr. Stewart showed a splendid large hen, 

 which was first, and J'^r. H. Brown a fine hen, which had the second 

 prize. Mr. Stewart also showed a very fine Blue cock, and a good 

 Black cock. Yellow cocks were very poor in quality and numbers ; 

 Mealy cocks were strong in numbers, but deficient in quality ; but 

 £ome splendid hens were shown in the class for that colour, Mr, San- 

 uerson'B first prize Mealy hen being a ver}- fine bird. Amongst the 

 birds which did not take prizes, but were worthy of notice, were Mr. 

 H. Brown's lied cock, Mr. C Vaux's Blue hen, and Mr. Simpson's 

 Blue hen. 



For CanUr/i, Mr. Fulton was again first and second in both the 

 classes with mnguificent birds. Very fine birds were also shown by 

 Messrs. T. CoUey, J. C. Ord, W. K. lilenkinsop, and John Thompson. 



Of Short-faced Almond TumlJas there were several beautifully 

 coloured specimens. Messrs. Fielding, Fulton, Leach, Vaux, and 

 Tardley all phowed superior birds. For Any other coloured Tumblers i 

 the irrepressible Mr. Fulton was easily first with a splendid pair of 

 Red Splashes ; he likewise won the sweepstakes for the best Almond 

 cock. 



In the class for Black Barbs Mr. Van Haansbergen was first with a 

 fine pair, the cock being a most superb specimen. In the class for Any- 

 oiher-coloured Barbs, Mr. Firth won easily with Yellows, the hen being 

 a very superior bird, the best of the colour I ever saw. 



Among Red or Black Jacobhis there was the closest competition, all 

 the specimens being above mediocrity. I never saw so many first- 

 class birds together. Mr. Jesse Thompson won with Reds, Mr. Finder 

 being second with Blacks. The latter were generally held to be the 

 superior pair of the two, the cock being the best Jacobin I ever saw. 

 Mr. Finder showed another pair of Blacks, and very good biids were 

 exhibited by Messrs. Van Haansbergen (two pens) and Horner, the 

 hen in one pen, belonging to the former gentleman, being the best 

 hen in the show. Of Jacobins of any other colour, only Y'ellows were 

 shown, ond they did not come up to the Reds and Blacks in quality. 

 Mr. Horner's were the best. 



Ia}{iails ("White) formed a large and vei-y good class. Mr. J. 

 Smellie's first prize pair were decidedly the most perfect specimens. 

 Some immense-tailed birds were exhibited by Messrs. Edge, Leach, 

 Else, Fawdon, and Taylor, and some marvels in carriage by Mr. Van 

 Haansbergen. These extremely fiue-carriaged birds were all more or 

 less deficient in tail, as compared with those of Mr. Smellie. Some 

 exceedingly good birds were shown in the class for coloured Fantails, 

 Mr, Edge being first with very fine Blues. Messrs. Y"ardley, Martin, 

 and Fielding also had very good specimens there. 



Trumpeters looked well, Mr. Horner's especially so, and these were 

 deservedly first and second in the class for Mottles. For Any-other- 

 coloured Trumpeters Mi-. Gates was first with a beautiful pair. 



In the class for Oirls Mr. Fielding was a long way ahead of all 

 competitors both in Blues and "Whites. Still, good birds were shown 

 by Mips F. Eastcn and Messrs. Bleukiusop, J. Thompson, and Van 

 Haansbergen. 



Of Xuns there were several pens of excellent colour and marking, 

 but in evei-y pen but that of Mr. Croft one or other of the birds was 

 deficient in crest. Those of Mr. Croft's weie perfect. Mr. Horner's 

 Y'ellows were very good. 



Jlnnts, Drae/oous, and Miujpiis call for no special remarks. 



Of Turlnts there was an excellent show. The crested birds laboured 

 under the same defect as the Nun class ; there were plenty of perfectly 

 crested single specimens, but not one pair matched in this particular. 

 The competition was very close, most of the bii-ds being conrectly 

 marked, and of good colour. Messrs, Sale, Y'artUi-'y, Edge, Towerson, 

 Van Haansbergen, and Liddall all exhibited fine birds. In the class 

 for point-headed Turbits the competition was just as close as in the 

 crested class, and most diflicult to judge. Mr. Horner was first and 

 Mr. Fawdou second. Messrs. Leach and R. "Wilson also showed good 

 birds. 



In the class for any other variety Swiss were first. Several pretty 

 varieties wer« exhibited. — Borderer. 



TRIMMING VULTURE HOCKS. 



■UiiDEB a painful sense of duty I have followed up my letter 

 the other day on this subject by entering a formal protest 

 against a prize pen of Brahma hens at Birmingham. I am 

 ignorant of the result, but if the penalty be not enforced I am 

 willing to^ublish the case in your columns, signed by myself 



and the two witnesses (both competent judges), in whose pre- 

 sence I took the bird from the pen. 



There were so miiny clear cases in the cockerel class, that I 

 feel bound to add I selected the hen class as the o)di/ one in 

 which I did not myself show, in order that no suspicion of 

 personal motive might attach to me in this my /('/>« active step. 

 Business engagements also imperatively prevented my attend- 

 ing on Monday to support my protest personally, so that I was 

 obliged to select such a case as would be obvious on inspection 

 to the most inexperienced observer. If, however, justice be 

 done in this case, it is my intention to take up everi/ one which 

 shall come under my notice, and thus endeavour to stamp out 

 a practice which deserves the most unmitigated contempt. 



I may remark, that perhaps the best pen of Buff Cochins 

 was scandalously trimmed about the hackles to conceal the 

 black feathers. But one matter at a time is quite suffieient 

 for — Nemo. 



NOTES ON FANCY PIGEONS.— No. 1.9. 



BALDBEADS AND BEAKES. 



The various colours found in fancy Pigeons arose, as we all 

 know, from selection and crossing. I say we all know, because 

 the pretty-feathered, pretty-named German birds which have 

 of late years appeared at our Pigeon shows have been bred in 

 this way. Any colour and marking may be so obtained, as the 

 German fanciers, who appear to be marvellously skilled in the 

 matter, declare, and as all Pigeon fanciers have found to be true 

 in a greater or less degree according to their experience. 



With regard to Baldhcad Tumblers, they were in the first 

 place so bred without doubt. Many Pigeons run perfectly 

 white in flight and tail, and parti-coloured birds usually have 

 some white feathers in the head. Hence it was no great diffi- 

 culty to obtain by care Tumblers which are very variously 

 hued, more so than any of the fancy bird;, white in flight and 

 tail, and white also in head. The white feathers in the head 

 would be most difficult to get free from any otLer colour, as 

 those who, like myself, have specially bred Edldheads know 

 full well ; for in nest after nest the birds will come with one or 

 two tiny coloured feathers where no coloured feathers ought to 

 be, or the white extends too low down the neck, or the division 

 there is not clean and straight, whereas the white feathers are 

 sure to come right enough in wings and tail. The fancier who 

 produced the first pair of Balds was, no doubt, highly pleased 

 with them, and so would be every one who saw them, whether 

 man, woman, or child, fancier or no fancier, as the little, snowy, 

 well-shaped heads would strike and please every eye. 



Old Moore (a d. ITHo), who only just mentions the beautiful 

 Almond Tumbler, dees not mention the BaU'l^ead at all. In 

 his doy Tumbler beauty had not been developed in the same 

 degree as Pouter beauty ; but between his time and the publi- 

 cation of the " Treatise," thirty years after, Tumbler beauty had 

 been greatly developed. Accordingly we find in the " Treatise " 

 the first account of the Eahlhead and Beard. The former 

 should, it is well known, have a clean-cut, pure white head, 

 white thighs, tail, and flight ; In all cases a clear pearl eye. If 

 the eye (of course dark for some time) of an adult is not pearl, 

 or, as is sometimes the case, the bird is odd-eyed, off with that 

 head directly. There must not be a feather on leg or foot, not 

 a dark feather on the head — if such appear off with that head 

 too. If you wish to breed perfect Pigeons yon must have no 

 scruples as to killing, and no more weakness than Henry YIII. 

 on the head question. 



I remember, when ill in bed some years since, my great 

 anxiety to see my young Tumblers' heads ; so a paity of birds 

 was brought to my bedside on a waiter, which scene drew from 

 me a smile, for how they waddled about and slipped upon the 

 smooth surface. 



Baldheads have much to recommend them. I hive found 

 them absolutely fiee from disease. They are little healthy 

 plump fellows, with, like all Tumblers, plenty of brain, and 

 capable of being made very tame, and are always sharp and 

 knowing, picking through your fingers if a grain of hempseed 

 is within the hand. 



As to colour, I have always found the Black by far the best 

 for many reasons. First, the contrast of colour when on the 

 ground, the little white heads looking so very white emerging 

 from the coal black body, and I think the Blacks arc usually 

 better shaped. Eiiffs are also very pretty, being dainty-looking 

 Uttle dears. Blues tre often good, aud very pretty, as all blue 

 Pigeons must be, from the brighter hues on the neck and the 

 very telling black bars. Silvers 1 think less of ; there is little 



