January 16, 18e8. ] 



JOURNAL OF nOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GAUDENER. 



Gl 



classes, aud upwards of ('i^lity entries. Of these many pons were moat 

 excellent, lu Reds Mr. Flctt-Uer won with an excellent pen of Brown 

 Reds, to which also was awarded the silver cup for the bfst pen in the 

 claesea for Rods, Dnckwings, and Any otlicr variety ; Lut the other 

 birds in this class were not of any note. The ftrst-pri/.o Duckmngs, 

 thouRh best, wore not jjood in colour ; the second wore good ; hut those 

 forming tlio third-prii^ts pen were so very small as to almost destroy 

 their chance, though of rare excellence in colour. The class for Game 

 of any other vai'iety was a decided failure, and only one second pnze 

 was awarded, and that to a Muffed or Bearded pair. One pen con- 

 tained a pair of birds beautifully bedaubed with magenta about the 

 eyes and face, doubtless to destroy tho sickly appcaranco of tho flesh ; 

 but the operator had overshot his mart, aud the result was a dis- 

 <lualiG cation. 



In Buff Coiliin-Cldnas the first-prize pen contained a remarkably 

 fine hen, and the second a cock which ought to be mated to the former. 

 Of Brown and Partridge there were some fine pens, but many of tho 

 others suffered fi-om diseased legs and feet. White Cochins were such 

 a class as is seldom seen ; and so good was the first-prize pen that 

 the silver cup for the best Cochins or Brahmas was awarded it. The 

 second and tliird-prize pens were little inferior in point of merit. The 

 Cochin chickens wore numerous, and the first-prize pen was especially 

 noteworthy. 



There was a good muster of Brahma^^ and the competition was very 

 close. The whole class was commended. 



Golden-pencilled Hamhurghs were good, as were also the Spangled 

 of both colours ; but among the Silver-pencilled were birds sadly out 

 of condition, though the cup for tho best pen of Hamburghs was 

 awarded in this class to Mr. Bel don's birds. 



The Variety class contained Polands, Crcve-Cceurs, and Houdans. 



In Game Bantams the prizewinners were of gi'cat beauty, aud the 

 class large. A neat little pen of Black took the first prize, a pen of 

 miniature Cochins was second, and a jiretty pen of Gold-laced third. 



In Duels Aylesbnrys were poor aud very badly shown in most cases ; 

 but the Rouen were much better, aud the Ducks in the Variety class 

 exceedingly fine. 



In the following Game classes many of the apparently best birds 

 proved defective on handling, both in respect to softness, want of con- 

 dition and crookedness of breast ; and many had Duck claws, though 

 in other respects good. 



In single cocks two silver cups were awarded, and two money prizes ; 

 the first prize going to a Black Red, and the secoud and third positions 

 wore secured by two very good Brown Reds shown l)y Mr. Robinson. 



In the class devoted to local csliibitors a cup was given by the Hon. 

 Secretary, and the competition was very close ; in fact, so good were 

 the biids. that they would have stood well in the general classes. Of 

 Game chickens there were birds as good as cordd be desired, and the 

 cup was carried off by Mr. Fletcher's Black-breasted Reds. One of 

 the best birds in the Show was, perhaps, the single Game Bantam 

 cockerel which won the first honours. Some very good Game ptillets 

 were shown in pairs, the first and second-prize birds being especially 

 tine. "We gave the awards in our last week's number. 



ESKDALE POULTRY SHOW. 



The arrangements at this Show, of which we published the prize 

 list last week, were excellent. The entries were scarcely so numerous 

 as last year, owing to the fact that throe other Shows, TJlverston, 

 Aberdeen, aud Paisley, were held on the same days ; however, the 

 deficiency in numbers was more than counterbalauced by the superior 

 qualitj' of the bii-ds shown. 



The single DorL/.iff/ cock class, cousidermg the prize of a silver cup, 

 we thought a very moderate lot, with the exception of the first-prize 

 bird of Miss Malcolm. The Ga7nc coch prize of a silver cup was com- 

 peted for by a capital lot of birds, chiefly from the neighbourhood. 

 The first-prize bird was a splendid Black Red belonging to Mr. Hardie, 

 good alike in hand, style, and feather; the second and third prizes 

 went respectively to Brown and Black Reds, scarcely equal in form 

 to the first bird. The Silver-Grej- Dorkimjs were a very fine 

 collection, the nrst-prize birds being very noticeable for their size 

 and tmeness to colour. The Dark Grey DorHmjs, old and young, 

 were a good lot, especially the first-prize chickens. The adult Spanish 

 class was good, tho first-prize birds of Mr. Paterson were a fine pair ; 

 and in chickens, the first prize cockerel was decidedly one of the best 

 that has ever teen exhibited in that part of Scotland ; the pair was 

 immediately claimed for £5. In the old Game cock and hen class 

 there was a fair collection. Black Reds taking the first prize ; and 

 in chickens Black Reds were again in the front, a vei-y fine pen 

 being first ; Brown Reds were second ; and in Any other variety 

 of Game, good Piles were first, aud Duckwings of fair quality 

 second. In the Cochin- Gkina aud Brahma Boofra classes there was a 

 small show, but among them were severalgood lots. Ilainbiu-ffJis appear 

 to be the breed at present most cultivated in Scotland. The first- 

 prize Silver-pencilled, first-prize Golden-pencilled, first prize Silver- 

 spangled, and first-prize Golden-spangled, were birds of great merit. 

 In the Varirtif class, good Crcve-Cceurs were first, and capital silver 

 Polands second. Game Bayitams mustered strongly ; the first-prize 

 Black Reds were a fine pen, and the first-prize Duckwings were also 

 very stylish and good. TurTceys were a fine lot and of great weight. 

 Qecse were large, and beautiful in both shape and colour. In Ducks^ 



tho Aylcsburya were a fine collection, especially tho first-prize birds : 

 tho Rouens were largo, and of good colour, Mr. Hardie again taking 

 first and Hccond prizes. Of otlior varieties of Ducks there was a good 

 show. In the cottagers' class the birds would have done credit to any 

 show ; in fact, many of the birds would have competed successfully in 

 tho general classes, there being scarcely an indifferent pen in the lot. 

 Bigrons mustered strongly, and some of the specimens were of great 

 merit, conspicuous being the first-prize Nuns, Almonds, Kites, Turblts 

 and Fautails. 



PAISLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATIONS 

 SHOW. 



In regard to tho quality of tlis apecimena which competed, this was 

 the most successful Kxliibitiou that this Associatiou has yet held. 



Of tho iJ94 pens of poultry, Sjiiini^h occupied forty-five. A f^eat 

 number of the old birds were rather over-faced, but the young class 

 showed plain and pure faces aud lobes. Mr. M'Innes's second pen was 

 universally admired. Coloured Dorhw'js have greatly improved in 

 weight. The young Silver-Grey cock of Mr. Alston was a beautiful 

 bird. In Cochin- Cliinas, Mr. Stewart was again successful with Buffs, 

 but was hard pressed with the Countess of Egliugton's Whites. There 

 was a great improvement iu the Brahma Pootras, especially in the 

 colour and markings of the hens. The old Scotch Breed was well re- 

 presented in twenty pens. The ffamlnirgJis as usual came out in large 

 numbers ; seventy-tlu*ee peus were occupied by them. The Silver 

 specimens were better than at previous Shows. The first Pencilled 

 cock of Dr. Colligan was much admired. The Polish fowls were extra 

 good. In the forty-three pens of Gallic, some fine specimens were 

 shown by Mr. Alexander and Mi-. M'Nab. Mr. Menzies' Dnckwing 

 cock was very superior. The Game Bantams occupied thirty pens. 

 The Brown Eeds were perfect in colour. Black Bantams were not so 

 numerous, thirteen pens competed, but the quality far surpassed what 

 is customary in this quarter. 



The Bif/eon department numbered 123 pens. In Pouters, Mr. 

 Sharp's Blacks, and Mr. Sutton's Blues were good. Fantails and 

 Jacobins were well represented. The Nuns, although not numerous, 

 were good. 



The Canary depai-tment was all that could be desired. The entries 

 have been more numerous, but the specimens were never so good. 



The names of the Judges, and a list of their awards appeared last 

 week. 



DUMFRIES AND MAXWELLTOWN 

 ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



L.iST year pens were provided for the large fowls ; on this occasion 

 pens were also procured for Bantams and Pigeons. The arrange- 

 ments of the Show were most excellent, and were admirably carried 

 out by the indefatigaWo Secretai-y, Mr. John Maxwell, aided by a very 

 efficient Committee. 



This flourishing Society has already done much good in stimulating 

 the breeding of poultry of a superior quality. Each successive year 

 shows an improvement in the character of the poultry exhibited. 



The entries were 38.'), as last year ; scarcely any pens were empty, 

 Tho Show, for the superior quality of the poultry exhibited, was the best 

 ever seen in Dumfries. 



Game fowls headed the list. The Black Reds, &c., were very 

 superior. The first-prize cock belonging to Mr. J. Harding, MasweU- 

 town, is a very handsome bird — he was also first at Dalbeattie Show. 

 The young birds in the class were not so good as the older, but the 

 first and second prize pens were excellent. Of Duckwings and Whites 

 there was a capital show, Mr. Thomas Maxwell taking both first and 

 secoud prizes with two pens of fine fowls. In the Young class the first 

 prize and silver medal were gained by Mr. John Brongh, Carlisle. 



In SjKinish fowls. Miss Neilson took both first and second prizes, 

 and the silver medal in the Any age class. In the class for young 

 birds, Mr. John Kerr was first with a superior pen. 



The Doriiiif/s were the pride of the poultry department, being nearly 

 all of a high character. The first prize and silver medal in the Any 

 age class went to Mr. ArnndeU, and a capital pen from Mr. W. Lyons, 

 Kirkmichael House, was second. The class hatched in 1867 was 

 excellent, the first pen, belonging to Mr. Thomas Ferguson, being 

 very good ; and the second, from Hcathat Hill, closely rivalling them. 



Only four pens of Cochin- China fowls of any age were shown, hut 

 tho whole were remarkably good. Lady Jane Johnstone Douglas 

 gained tho first prize with a pen of white birds, of Braes House blood. 

 Mr. Moffat gained the second prize, and was highly commended, for 

 two' pens of the same strain of blood. Of young birds there was a good 

 sIjow— tho best pen being from Lady Jane J. Douglas, Lockerbie 

 House. There were some good birds among the Brahma Pootras. 



The Aylesbury Ducks, though few, were very good— the birds being 

 largo and of handsome shape. Those from Lockerbie House were 

 first-rate, and the second-prize pen from Kirkmichael House were 

 nearly equal in merit. Piouen Ducks were more numerous, and most 

 of the pens contained very choice birds. Mr. Thomas Parker gained 

 the first prize. The Bantams were very good. 



The entries of Pigeons were numerous, and there were many very 

 ' beautiful birds in all the classes. 



