April 22, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



321 



Babbs.— I, J. Stanley. 2, W. J. Warhnrst, vhc, W. Warbarton, Fla:!moBe. 

 ftc, J. Stanley ; T. Peacoclt, Preston; H. Yardlev. 



Owh6.—Enolish.—\, J. Uichmonil 2, T. & W. Oddie. vhc, J. Gardner; R. 

 Boyle, Blackburn, he. S. Lawaon, Preston ; J. Fieldinf,' ; R- Boyle ; T. Chiirnley. 

 c, J. S. TitheriDRton, Haalingden 



DK1000N3.— 1. W. Seflon. 2. ,T. Stanley. 3. T. Charnlcy. he. R. Taylor, 

 Blnclfburn; J. Gardner; J. Stanley; W. Seftm; T. Charnlcy. c, H. Crosby, 

 Cheshire; R. Pcmberton.jun . Blackburn; Waddincton i Booth, Burnley ; VV. 

 Dugdale, Burnley ; R. White. Manchester; W. Setton ; H. Yardley. 



Antwebps.— 1, W. Harrison, Burnley. 2, F. Woodhouse. Audley, Blaclibum. 

 he. S. Lawson ; J. Gardner ; WaddiuRton & Booth ; J. Stanley. 



Jacobins.— 1, J. ciardner. 2, S. Lawson. he, J Gardner; 3. Lawson; W. 

 Sntcliffo, Burnley; W. H. A. Miller, Walsall. e,J. Kiohmond ; A. A. Vander 

 Meersch. Tooting. 



TuRDiTH.— 1, T. S. Stephenson, Beverley. 2, J, Gardner, e, J. B. Bowdon, 

 Blackburn ; S. Lawson ; R. White. 



FiNTiiLS — 1, W. J. Warhnrst. 2, J. F. Loversidge, Newark. I'fic, A. A. 

 Vander Meersch; S. Lawson. he, J. Richmond; W.J. Warhnrst; A.A. Vander 

 Meersch. 



Tbumpetehs.— 1, A. A. Vander Meersch. 2, H. Yardley. he, F. S. Barnard, 

 Tottenham. 



Ndns— I and 2, A. A. Vander Meersch. he, J. B. Bowdon; J. Richmond; 

 A. A. Vander Meersch. 



MiGPiES— 1 and 2, J. B. Bowdon. he, J. B. Bowdon-; J. Richmond ; W. J. 

 Warhnrst. 



Ant other Variety.— 1, T, Charnley. 2 and vhe, .7. Richmond, he, J. B. 

 Bowdon ; A. A. Vander Meersch ; J. Gardner ; W. Dugdale. 



Selling Class.—I, W. Dugdale. 2, J. Richmond, he, H. Crosby ; A. A. 

 Vander Meersch. e, S. Lawson. 



RABBITS. 



Lop-EABED.— 1 and 2, J. Irving, Blackburn. 3. H. Prickworth, Moulton Marsh, 

 Spalding, he, T. & E. J. Fell, ulackburn ; J. Irving ; A. Shaw, Blackburn ; H. 

 Prickworth 



Any other Variety.— 1. F. Stansfield, Clayton-le-Moors. 2, J. Irving. 3, S. 

 Buckley, Rochdale, he, J. Irving; H. Prickworth. 



JoDQES. — Mr. Simon Fielding, Sfcoke-upon-Trent, and Mr. 

 Edward Hntton, Padaey. 



MORPETH SHOW OF POULTRY, &c. 



This was held on April the 10th in the Corn Exchange, a place 

 admirably adapted for the purpose. The Committee of Manage- 

 ment being nearly all worliing men, it was gratifying to find 

 their endeavours meeting with such an amount of success. To 

 keep down expenses, everything connected with the Exhibition 

 was done by themselves, and done well. The pens were arranged 

 in the beat possible manner ; the birds were well attended to, 

 and BO were the visitors ; the managers were courteous and 

 obliging to everybody; and everybody was pleased. Such a 

 Committee deserve success ; and under their management the 

 Morpeth Show should rise to an important position. 



Cochins and Brahmas were good classes, the winners being 

 large well-feathered birds. Only one pen of Dorkings was ex- 

 hibited, which, however, deserved the first prize awarded to it. 

 Samburghs always muster well in Northumberland, and they 

 were quite up to the usual standard here. The Game classes 

 were large, and contained many excellent birds. Game Bantams 

 are the pets of the district ; and we were not surprised to find 

 BO many grand birds among them. The winner in the single 

 cock Bantam was one of the best Black Reds we ever saw, 

 splendid in feathering and style. The winners in the Variety 

 class (Bantams) were all Black. Single cock class was won by 

 a ^rand Buff Cochin ; second Brahmas. Any variety was won 

 by Golden-spangled Polish ; Creve-Co3urs being second. There 

 was only one class for Ducks, which doubtless Limited the 

 entries ; good Rouens took both prizes. 



Pigeons were well shown. Pouters, Carriers, Owls, Turbits, 

 and Magpies being exceptionally good. 



There was only one class for Cats, and the Judge had con- 

 siderable difficulty in deciding on their merits. The winner 

 was a large black-and-white, with a fine skin ; second and third 

 beautiful greys. 



CocHTNa.- 1, W. Swann.Bedlington. 2, W. Newbegin, Newcastle. 



Brahma Pootras.- 1, T. Oliver, Burradon Colliery. 2, W. Swann. 



Dorkings.— 1. W. Swann. 



Spanish.— 1, T. Oliver. 2, R Smith, Bebside Colliery. 



Hambckgiis. — GoUi'^n-spangled —1. A. Stephenson. Dudley Colliery, 2, T. 

 Marshall, Milford. he. J. Morton, Choppington Colliery. Silver spav^led.^ 

 1, W. Johnson, i'owpen Colliery. 2, W. Nixon, Moroeth. Golden-pencilled.— 

 1, D. Chyne. 2. T. Marshall. 8ilveT-iieneiUed.—l, Davison ^ Pattison, Bebside 

 Colliery. 2, J. M<)rton. 



Game.— Blncfc or Drown Red-'i.—l, T. Middlemiss. Seaton Delaval. 2, C. 

 Taylor. Sunderland, he, J. Young. Any other variety.—l, T. Young. 2, J. 

 Douglas, Cambois Colliery, 



Bantams. — Oame.—Blaek or Broien Iteds.—l, G. Bell, North Seaton. 2, G. 

 Dowie, West Sleekbum. he, J. Short, Bedlington ; T. Heslop, West Slcekbum. 

 Any other variety except Game.—l, J. Duming, Cambois, Blyth. 2, D. Chyne. 

 he. J. H. Law, Birmingham. 



Bantams.- .^7ij/ variety.— Cock.— I, G.Vo-wie. 2.W. Swann. he, E.Rutherford, 

 Sleekburn Colliery. 



Ant Vabiett.— Coefc —1, A. Stephenson. 2, T. Oliver, he, J. Stark. 



Any other Variety.— 1 and he. R. Parsons. 2, W. Atkinson, Morpeth. 



Ducks —Any variety.— I an-l 2, W. Swann. 



Selliso Class.— 1, J. Young. 2 and e, H. Sharp. 



PIGEONS. 

 PotTTERS.— I and 2, H. Simpson, Shankhonse. 

 Carriers.- 1. H. Simpson. 2. W. Nixon. 

 Owls.— 1, E. Walker. Hexham. 2, T. Arkle, Morpeth. 

 Fantailb.— 1, H. Simpson. 2. P. Wilson, Pegawood. 

 Turrits.- 1, H. Simpson. 2, P. Wilson, 

 Nuns.— 1 and 2, P. Wilson. 

 Magpies.— 1 and 2. P. Wilson. 

 Dragoons.- I, E. Walker. 2, T. Arkle. 



Any OTHER Variety.— 1, H. Simpson, Shankhonse. 2, P. Wilson, he, S. 

 Hume, Morpeth. 

 Skuonq Class.—I, P, Wilson 2 T. GEurdlner, Swalwell. 



CtTS.—Any variety or colour.— I, F. R. Nichol, Morpeth. 2, Miss M. Nich 

 Morpeth. 3, T. MarsbaU, Mitford. 



Judge. — Mr. F. E. Sohofield, Morpeth. 



THE COMMON PIGEON. 



Moon has been written on what are called " fancy Pigeons," 

 and much has been done for their preservation. Their value 

 tends to this, and as well induces fanciers to search even in 

 foreign lands for them. Tliey have many admirers, and their 

 various characteristics attract the attention of the most cursorv 

 observer. But what of that beautiful bird the common Pigeon? 

 In my wanderings in other cities, as time permits, I call at the 

 various bird shops, where, if nothing new is to be seen, there is 

 still no lack of interest, and there I am sure to find what I am 

 told are " only shooters." It often makes my heart sad to see 

 them (and I am often tempted to call in the police) undergoing 

 the first of the agonies to which too many — aye, far too many — 

 of those poor things are doomed. Just look at them : one, two, 

 or three dozen pent-up, closer than penned sheep, in some old 

 cage, basket, or box ; they have fought theraselveB tired ; those 

 feathers which the highest authority has described as being 

 "covered with yellow gold" are ruffled, torn, and dirty; they 

 have had no food or water tor no one can tell how long ; they 

 are and have been in a state of semi-starvation. And what ia 

 their end? They are carried out to some open part of the 

 country, each bird placed in a small condemned cell called a 

 trap, and when it emerges into supposed liberty, unless the 

 executioner fails in his aim, end their miserable existence by 

 fluttering downward to the earth, wounded, bleeding, and dying ; 

 and what is all this to satisfy ? The vicious appetites of heart- 

 less men, and I feel forced to aay also that women patronise this 

 so-called "sport" by applauding the performances of their 

 friends. Were those men and women the roughs or scum of 

 society there would be some excuse which I could bring for- 

 ward; they are not of this class, but of the class known as 

 ladies and gentlemen, and no doubt also professing christians. 



Were those poor birds shot for the purpose of augmenting the 

 food of the country some excuse, paltry however it might be, 

 could be set up ; but it is not for this purpose, it is a " sport," 

 so called and reported in the newspapers. If this is not 

 " cruelty to animals " I don't know what is, and it is time that 

 the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animala took the 

 upper hand in this matter. Our national poet, on seeing a 

 wounded hare limp past him, wrote on the act of the sportsman — 

 "Inhnman man I corse on thy barb'rous art, 

 And blasted be thy murder-aiming eye; 

 May never pity soothe thee with a sigh. 

 Nor ever pleasure glad thy cruel heart I" 

 I would not 80 BO far as this, but I think the man or woman who 

 can make this cold-blooded cruelty a " sport " or pleasure can 

 have very little heart, and deserves very little sympathy. 



If they will amuse themselves by hitting something in motion 

 in air, let some one toss up an old shoe for them and try at that, 

 or anything else they choose, but pray spare the life of au 

 innocent bird. — James Huie. 



ENGLISH OWLS. 



Many thanks to " Wiltshire Rector " for his few encou- 

 raging remarks upon EngUsh Owls. Indeed, when we find also 

 two of our best Pigeon Judges, Mr. Bsquilant and Mr. Jones, 

 with their many opportunities of seeing and comparing all the 

 varieties, both admirers and breeders of the English Owl, we 

 do not anticipate this breed will ever be talked or written down 

 by gentlemen who are endeavouring to wipe out a variety which 

 is a source of pleasure and interest to a large number, and 

 which, in spite of the increase and spread of the " African," is 

 becoming more popular every day, as may partly be seen in the 

 increasingly well-flUed classes when provided for this breed. 



The arguments of Mr. Lyell against the English Owl are 

 chiefly based, as stated by him in his last sentence, upon what 

 he has read in a book published one hundred and ten years ago. 

 Does Mr. Lyell mean to say that during this more than a century 

 the whole Pigeon fancy has been at a standstill, and that what 

 was then described as a short-faced bird would be short-faced 

 now, or a small Tumbler then a small Tumbler now ? Of course 

 there may have been a few really small Tumblers— weakly birds 

 like the often one unfortunate in a brood of chickens or a litter 

 of pupa — but I am sure the average size would be far above 

 what Mr. Lyell would lead us to believe by his quotation ; and 

 as for the general point, all the really old representations I have 

 seen are far behind the best birds ([ am speaking of all varieties) 

 of the present day, and even if there are any good plates, they 

 only represent ideal specimens. I am sure that fancy Pigeons 

 a hundred years after this, though they may be vastly superior 

 to those of the present day, will not excel those represented in 

 the plates in Mr. Fulton's book. Perhaps some now young 

 fancier will fifty years hence be pointing to these plates, and 

 with a sorrowful shake of the head saying, " See what they 

 were like in my days ; then Pigeons were Pigeons." 



