298 



JOUENAL OF HOBTICULHIIIE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ April 17, 1886. 



say nothing of tliose at a diBtancc, and encourage and help the 

 nndertaking. Mr. Lang asks breeders to propose a time whicU 

 will least clash with other shows. I have been looking through 

 last year's Numbers of " our .Journal " aud have come to the 

 conclusion that in or about the first week in November would 

 be a very suitable time for holding the Bristol Fooltry Eidiibi- 

 tion. — A. K. C. 



DRAGON riGEONS. 



I AM pleased that my previous remarks upon Dragons and 

 the little controversy between Mr. Percivall and myself have 

 called fortli the opinions of some fanciers and questions from 

 others, and may bo the means of bringing about a settlement 

 of a subject which would appear to many of your readers of 

 trifling moment, but wliich is of great importance to the fancy. 

 For this reason I was, in the first instance, desirous of promot- 

 ing a discussion upon the respective qualities of the two sorts 

 of Dragons under notice, in order that the merits of each might 

 be laid before those of your readers interested, and that these 

 might judge for themselves whether or not it was folly for Mr. 

 Percivall to e:^claim "without reason or argument" against 

 white-rumped Dragons, which have long been acknowledged, 

 and ought to bo admired, for the superior colour " they un- 

 questionably possess" over those of Mr. Percivall's choice. 



Again, Mr. Percivall comes forth without any argument, 

 simply reiterating former declarations without one iota of evi- 

 dence in support of his fancy, or a word to refute what I have 

 said in favour of the birds he would discard. I do not wish Mr. 

 Percivall to infer, as he does, that because the white-rumped 

 birds form the great majority they should necessarily be the 

 best ; nor do I allow that because those of his fancy are so few 

 that such should go in their favour. I ask any fancier to test 

 for himself by placing one of each sort side by side, and I 

 think I can safely say he will agree with my views. It does 

 not require the educated eye of an artist to decide which is the 

 better colour ; for, as a rule, the superiority of the white-rumped 

 birds is obvious to the casual observer. I do not feel satisfied 

 to remain a silent reader of sitch prejudiced notions as those 

 of Mr. Percivall, and by that silence sanction any crotchet or 

 foible until such is acknowledged at the sacrifice of some of 

 the best Dragons that can be bred. Blue Dragons are under- 

 stood to be white-rumped, it is the exception to obtain them 

 otherwise of a good blue colour, and, therefore, I think it un- 

 justifiable for Mr. Percivall to persist in calling them worth- 

 less, and to wish to force his opinions on others, which, instead 

 of making out the points of Dragons more clearly, would only 

 cause the judging of them to bo more complicated, and would 

 necessarily lead to discussions as to whether they were white- 

 rumped or not, as there are white-rumped ones, blue-rumped 

 ones, and the various gradations of shades between the two ; 

 and as a matter of eoui'se, the nearer they approach Mr. Per- 

 civall's choice the more dowdy is their colour, aud the less 

 attractive and beautiful are they as aviary birds, and conse- 

 quently it is an essential point against them. 



Although Mr. Percivall does not flatter me in some of his 

 observations, it serves his purpose in Ueu of argument, and 

 does not offend me. He has, however, given me credit for 

 being wise in withholding my name ; which, if that constitutes 

 my wisdom, is a virtue I have no wish to retain. Having no 

 desire to be an anonymous correspondent, I append my name 

 and address to this letter, with the request that it may be 

 published. 



Mr. Percivall says, I may be a Dragon breeder, but certainly 

 not a Dragon fancier. Not so certain, I say. The Pigeons I 

 keep (solely for my own hobby or amusement), consist chiefly 

 of Dragons, so Mr. Percivall may term me a breeder, fancier, 

 or anything he likes. He has been bold enough to call me 

 ignorant of what I have not attempted to describe — viz., the 

 properties of a Dragon. As yet I have merely pointed out the 

 difference between the birds under notice, although I flatter 

 myself, my delineation of a good Dragon would be of service 

 to Mr. Percivall, though I should feel it presumptuous in me to 

 describe in your Journal what to many is so well understood. 

 Mr. Percivall says he has for many years been a member of a 

 society for the improvement of every kind of Pigeon. I cannot 

 think the members of that society would say that white- 

 rumped Dragons and Owls are worthless, and ought to be ex- 

 cluded from prizetaking. That birds which for years have 

 so frequently occupied the most prominent places upon the 

 prize Uets of our exhibitions, and yet possessing such glaring 

 defects, should have passed the notice of such a society, seems 



strange. I know of one pair of white-rumped Dragons which 

 have been shown at most of the exhibitions in England, and 

 have been successful in taking upwards of fifteen prizes, so 

 that they must have been closely scrutinised many times, and 

 most likely have passed through the hands of those whose 

 opinions are valued. 



Mr. Percivall has thought proper to so far misconstme my 

 meaning relating to the black ticks, which I say so often 

 appear upon the upper wing-coverts of the blue-rumped birds, 

 as to call them " Chequers." 1 think I understand the mean- 

 ing of chequers, and, had I thought proper to describe the 

 small ticks in the exaggerated sense, I should have used the word 

 Mr. Percivall suggests ; but I think my meaning would be un- 

 derstood by those who have had experience with Blue Pigeone. 

 The ticks, or specks of black I allude to, resemble those upon 

 the tail feathers of Pile Game fowls, or the wings and taU of 

 many of the Dun Antwerp Pigeons, and are not proper 

 chequers, but graduated stippling of black from the top por- 

 tion of the bar downwards ; and again I say such are generally 

 to bo found upon blue-nmiped Pigeons, and the darker the 

 hue the plainer they are to be seen. 



In your Number of March 'iOth a correspondent signing 

 himself " An Amatelu " suggests the names of Mr. Hewitt 

 and Mr. Esquilant, whose opinions, "lie says," would carry 

 great weight ; for my part, 1 think the more opinions we obtain 

 the better, the majority of which I think would endorse my 

 views. Mr. Percivall selects from " As Amateub's " suggestion 

 the name of Mr. Esquilant to whom he would refer. \Miy he 

 omits that of Mr. Hewitt I can only surmise. In my opinion 

 this last-named gentleman has shown himself of keen percep- 

 tion and good judgment when his decisions have come under 

 my notice, and, therefore, I hope we may hear from each of 

 the gentleman named. 



I see Mr. Percivall noticed the remarks of " WiLTSiimE Rec- 

 tor," and in one particular, singular to say, I agree with Mr. 

 Percivall, when he says that because white-rumped Dragons 

 have been successful at Birmingham that that is no criterion. 

 It does not necessarily follow on that account that they are 

 perfect ; but their beauty will recommend them, and they must 

 be acknowledged, and when placed with others, and judged 

 upon their merits, at the discretion of good judges, will be 

 found, if not at the top always, still amongst the winners. As 

 Mr. Percivall appears not to have noticed Mr. Brent's observa- 

 tions, I would recommend him to refer to the Number of 

 March 20th, where that gentleman describes in a few pithy 

 lines what is part and parcel of the true blue colour— viz., 

 " the white rump." Mr. Brent has gained celebrity by his 

 writings on Pigeons, and as I consider his opinion is of impor- 

 tance I take this opportunity of otfering him my thanks. 



As an ardent admirer of all kinds of Pigeons, and especially 

 Dragons, I ask that those who read this controversy and are 

 called upon to officiate as judges, may not be biased by what 

 Mr. Percivall has said, but that they will exercise their own 

 discretion in the awards they may make. — A Diuooos Breeder 

 (■T.W. LrDLow, 9G, Edward Place, VauxhallRoad,Binning]tavi). 



The Salisrcrt Meeting op the Bath and West of Exolaxd 

 Society. — It will be seen by an advertisement in another column 

 that, in order to meet the convenience of numerous Exhibitors, 

 the time for entering poultry has been extended to the 1st of 

 Mav. 



CooKiNT. AN Oli> Hen. — The Slassaehuffttn Ploiiffliman gives 

 the following directions for " serving up an old hen so that she 

 shall manifest, to mortal palate, all the delicacy and tenderness 

 of youth :" — " .Tust cut her up into joints, taking care to go by 

 the joints so that j-ou do not get in any splinters of bones 

 Pick up all the bits of meat you have in the house, bones too 

 if there is any meat on them, any odd pieces of ham or bacon, 

 leg or shoulder of mutton, and a slice of salt pork, and cut a 

 few slices of fat bacon and some bread. Take an earthen 

 vessel with an earthen cover, with a bit of a hole in it, the 

 covei, we mean, and put a layer of bread at the bottom of this 

 vessel, then a layer of bacon, and then fill in with all the scraps 

 and joints you happen to have — they must be sweet and clean 

 of course— "till the vessel is full. Then fill up the hollows and 

 cracks with water, and tie down the lid. Put it at night in a 

 verj- warm, not hot oven, and let it stay till morning. Take it 

 out at your leisure and put it in a cool place, and when perfectly 



