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JOURNAL OP HOKTICDLTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ Jane 17, 1876. 



djBtributed, HamtnrgbB comiug off the beet. Pigeons have a 

 point cup, but as there are only nine claesea, and the firizea but 

 lOs. and 5s., we do not anticipate much rivalry between the 

 " dealers." So here is a chance really for the badly-treated 

 amateur. We are glad to see more than one pen may come in 

 a basket. The Judge is not announced ; we conclude he will be 

 one of " acknowledged ability," and earnestly hope exhibitors 

 will not be disappointed. 



Shrewseuby will hold its Show on July 29th and 30th. The 

 names of the Committee and that of the Hon. Secretary are 

 well known, and consequently we shall expect a superior exhi- 

 bition. The prizes are good, and extra cups numerous ; ,i''2, =il, 

 10s. in each class. Dorkings and Cochins are well divided, and 

 so are the Game. Brahmas, Dark and Light, each have a class, 

 and an extra. Hamburgbs have three classes, and Mr. Darby 

 gives them an extra cup. Creves, Houdans, and Malays each 

 have classes. Mr. Brooke and Mr. Tudman evidently have 

 come to a mutual understanding, the one giving his cop for the 

 other's specialities. We regret very much to see no Poland 

 class in this capital schedule. It is a mistake. Game Bantams 

 all compete together, but there is an extra between them and 

 the Variety Bantam class. No class for Black East Indians. 

 Pigeons have ten classes, but it is not a schedule which will 

 draw; hardly inviting enough to get the Doo Lodge birds down. 

 The Judges are announced — viz., Messrs. Hewitt and Esquilant. 

 We sincerely hope the former will be able to attend. Entries 

 close on the 6th. The entrance fees are most moderate — only 

 4s. and 2s. This Show deserves patronage. The birds must 

 CDme in separate packages. AVe are sorry for this ; but still it 

 is at shows where there are single-bird classes that we do so 

 earnestly beg for permission to use double baskets. — W. 



THE PEESENT YEAR'S HATCHING SEASON. 



H.tviNG seen much correspondence and many complaints of 

 the hatching season thisspring, especially during the east winds 

 in March and April, I venture, though only an amateur with no 

 extraordinary appliances, to send a record of my experiences. 

 December 8th, 1874, till February 1.5th, 1875, set 70, hatched 32 ; 

 March 4th till April 00th, set 161, hatched 123. The pure Dor- 

 kings and pure Houdans hatched equally as well as the cross- 

 bred chickens. 



The birds for breeding live in slight moveable wooden houses, 

 and have free range ; but I am anxious to record my experienca 

 of the effect of frost on eggs rather than east wind. I set 

 thirty-six eggs before January 15th, and only hatched out seven, 

 and this I attribute entirely to the eggs having been chilled 

 before they were collected. I shall be glad of the opinions of the 

 poultry connoisseurs as to the necessary minimum temperature 

 in which eggs for hatching should be kept. My experience 

 teaches me they should be collected while warm duriog severe 

 frosts, and kept in air-proof boxes on the Norwegian stove 

 principle. — A Berkshibe Amateur. 



[We think our correspondent's suggestion well worlhy of at- 

 tention, and invits our readers to send us their observalions. — 

 Eds.] 



SELECTION.— No. 1. 



I WOULD liave entered upon this subject long ere now had not 

 circumstances combined to jrevent me. However, on reading 

 Dr. Morgan's paper reprinted in our Journal from the •' Pet- 

 Stock Bulletin " I felt it touched a point upon which I am very 

 eusceptible. It is neither my desire nor intention to open up 

 an argument, but I shall be glad to see expressed opinious from 

 those who have studied this subject. Dr. Morgan is no doubt a 

 fancier of the first rank, and I wish we had one or two more of 

 his calibre on this side the Atlantic, but I fear his enthusiasm 

 has carried him into those scientific mists through which we 

 Oin see neither head nor tail. He has launched upon a sea of 

 which he skims the surface only — a sea of depth so infinite that 

 I believe man will never be able to fathom it. 



Dr. Morgan starts with the conviction that all our beautiful 

 varieties of Pigeons have sprung from the common Pigeon. I 

 presume he means the dovecote Pigeon. Scientific writers name 

 the small Blue Rock Pigeon as the parent of all : this latter 

 point I shall take up by-and-by. The most unsatisfactory part 

 of the doctor's paper I think is, that all the varieties bred " from 

 the common Pigeon is a simple fact in nature, depending upon 

 selection extended over a period of time." Upon this so called 

 fact the doctor has, he says, satisfied himself, but he has neither 

 aatiHfied me, nor, if I mistake not, any of our readers. This is 

 just the old, old story, " Once upon a time long, long ago," &c., 

 which does satisfy the child but will not satisfy the man. 



The doctor says, " Pouters become smaller and smaller when 

 allowed to intermingle, Carriers lose their wattles and size, 

 Fantails drop their tails, and Tumblers become coarse." By the 

 word " intermingle " am I to understand to cross with each 

 ■other in those or other varieties ? If so, then of course cross- 

 bred birds will be produced, some of them showing more of the 



characteristics of the father, and others more of those of the 

 mother. This would not be the natural selection of Mr. Darwin 

 nor the artificial selection of the fancier, but compulsory selec- 

 tion. Should the word "intermingle" mean matching as they 

 flioose in their own variety, the tendency would be to make the 

 Pouter coarser; but if *' smaller and smaller," they would still 

 be Pouters. Carriers may lose the wattle so far and deteriorate 

 in size, still they would be Carriers. Fantails would lose in 

 size of tail, but they would still bear upon their shape and style 

 their original name, the Broad-tailed Shaker. Tumblers may 

 become coarse, still they would be Tumblers ; and the rule is, 

 the coarser they become the better they tumble. 



Now by reducing some of oar fancy Pigeons to common birds 

 through their produce, as Dr. Morgan tells us he has done, he 

 thinks he has proved his so-called " fact in nature," and tells 

 us that " at school we used to do our sums backwards to prove 

 them." True, we used to do so, but this was alter we had done 

 our sums forwards. I submit the sum has never been done 

 forwards ; it is not on record, not in history. A child has put 

 into his hands a beautiful toy, and often with one ruthless 

 blow utterly destroys it. He knew not who made it nor how it 

 was made, and he cannot make another like it. He, like Dr. 

 Morgan and Mr. Darwin, has done his sum backwards, and has 

 only proved that he has destroyed the gem which was so well 

 worth preserving. 



Unfortunately there have been very few real ornithologists, 

 however many copyists, the latter having only promulgated the 

 opinions of the former, and this, I am sorry to think, is still 

 going on. I have read most of the old ornithological works, and 

 at one time held the same opinion as Dr. Morgan, and fancied 

 that I could by " selection " produce a new variety, but after 

 years of care found my efforts unrewarded in the slightest 

 degree. From childhood I have kept common Pigeons, and 

 have them still. How is it, then, that over a period of nearly 

 half a century I have never been able to detect the slightest 

 variation in the young birds except in colour? 



Being but a Scotchman 1 cannot steam ahead in the American 

 style. I like to be sure, however slow. But as Dr. Morgan has 

 thrown down tbe gauntlet I take it up and challenge him to do 

 his sum forwards. But I go a Utile further : I offer Dr. Morgan, 

 Mr. Darwin, or any other (ladies included), a silver salver value 

 A'50, with suitable inscription, if they produce one new variety, 

 or even any one of the old varieties, from the common Pigeon 

 direct, or from the Blue Rock Pigeon of scientific writers. I go 

 further still : Ou the same terms produce a new variety with 

 distinctive characteristics by using any or all of the varieties 

 known. 



Dr. Morgan tells us he tried to produce. while Fantails with 

 black tails, aud he used the Nun (a black-tailed bird) as a cross, 

 but that he failed in his attempt ; this there can be no doubt of. 

 Then he fdund " a sport in a friend's loft " — in fact, a Fantail 

 nearly black, and by crossing it with a pure white Fantail he 

 obtained what he wanted. Of course, the whole affair was a 

 mere matter of colour; but what does this teach us ? Stick to 

 the variety, or you. lose in crossing ! But, as Dr. Morgan seems 

 certain that tbe Jacobin is " not many removes from the com- 

 mon," the expfriment wUl be a short one and the prize easily 

 won. — J.\M£S HuiE. 



GREEN CARDS AT THE HULL RABBIT SHOW. 



When I saw the "green" prize cards at the Hull Show, and 

 before the poisoning of Mr. Firth's grand buck, and for which 

 four days before the Hull Show I offered i'lO, I feared that 

 fatal results would arise. I think committees of shows should 

 provide white cards which can be manufactured without mineral 

 poison, and consequently without fatal poisoning results should 

 they be eaten by the Rabbits. 



The experience of Messrs. Hudson should have taught them 

 not to have had " green " prize cards, because they could not 

 be ignorant of their poisonous character, aud whoever put the 

 "green" prize card in the hamper with Mr. Firth's buck did 

 that which was very likely to end as it did. — G. E. Savage. 



[Green cards are objectionable if put iuto the basket contain- 

 ing a Babbit. The colour is usually from one of the arsenical 

 salts. Was such a card put into the basket with Mr. Firth's 

 buck?— Eds.] 



The Swans on the Thames. — The Dyers' and Vintners' 

 Companies have for several hundred years enjoyed the privilege 

 of preserving Swans on the Thames from Loudon to some miles 

 above Windsor, and they still continue the old custom of going 

 with their friends and guests with the Royal swanherdoman, 

 and their own swanberds and assistants, on tbe first Monday in 

 August in every year, from Lambeth, ou their swan voyage, 

 for the purpose of catching aud " upping " (or marking) all the 

 cygnets of the year. The junior warden of the Vintners' Com- 

 pany is called the swan warden ; tbe appointment to the office 

 of Royal swanherd being vested in the Lord Chamberlain for 

 the time being. Eton College has also the privilege of keep- 



