410 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GARDENBB. 



[ November 5, 1874, 



The Malay hen hag the same characteristics as the cock, and 

 has also fightiug propensities. She has like him a conical 

 shape, fierce look, and a dark and cruel eye. The hackle feathers 

 are extremely short and close-tittiug on the neck, givins; to this 

 part a very slender appearance, making still more than in the 

 cock a greater prominence of the shoulders. She weighs from 

 6 lbs. 10 ozs. to 7J Ihs. Lays a pretty large number of eggs, 

 having a yolk light yellow, very solid. She sits well and brings- 

 up her chickens well. 



The EngliRh esteem this variety highly, using it for a cross 

 to give weight to birds for table. I think it should be nsed 

 with great circumspection, especially with Cochins or Brahmas. 

 Malays often are sold in France under the name of " the 

 Brazil," " the cock of Gros-Marne," sent to the Society of 

 Acclimatisation under the name of " the Eeuniou cock," and 

 an amateur member of this Society wished, under pretext of a 

 difference hardly discernible, to call " the Malacca." 



In conclusion the variety is useless, and its fierce habit makes 

 it impossible to associate it with our indigenous fowls. The 

 detestable fowls known under the fallacious names of " Ganges," 

 "Bengal," "Bussian," and "American," are degenerated or 

 mixed descendants of the real Malay. 



OXFORD POULTRY SHOW. 



The third annual Exhibition was held in the Town Hall and 

 Corn Exchange on October 23th and 29th, and we have great 

 pleasure in congratulating the Committee on the substantial 

 progress they have made in their entries. Mere numbers are 

 not always to be accepted as a sign of success, but here a marked 

 improvement has taken place in the general character of the 

 birds ; and although we have no doubtthatthe most experienced 

 exhibitors have reserved their best birds for the great Show that 

 is soon to follow, still great interest was taken, and the classes 

 anxiously examined for fear a chance pen might snatch the blue 

 ribbon from some of the expectant winners. The entries num- 

 bered 1412, and the arrangements were satisfactory, with the 

 exception of the sale ofiice. This was announced to open at 

 2 P.M., but did not open until fifteen minutes past. It appears 

 that several people wanted the same bird, and the Committee 

 were in doubt if they should let the first comer have it, or put 

 it up by auction to the highest bidder; they adopted the first 

 course, which we think was the right one, as it would have been 

 hard upon the intending purchaser, who had patiently waited 

 at the door for three hours to be first on the list, to find him- 

 self only in the same position as the last comer. The most 

 satisfactory course, no doubt, is to sell the birds to the highest 

 bidder, but then it should be so stated in the rules. 



Doriiings had four classes. The Coloured chickens disap- 

 pointed us. The first-prize cock was a large one, but very much 

 up in the back, and it was a mistake placing him in the prize 

 list. The second-prize pen was fine, and certainly the best in 

 the class ; the third also good, but we liked another pen shown 

 by the same winner (Burnell) better. The cockerel will make a 

 fine bird when more developed. Pen 11, belonging to Mr. Ling- 

 wood, were superior to some of the noticed birds. Possibly the 

 Judge considered them too old for the chicken class ; if so, they 

 should have been marked "disqualified," this would have ex- 

 plained the cause of their omission. The Silver-Greys pleased 

 us. The first-prize cockerel was a splendid bird, well grown, 

 with no sign of the crooked breast which is so prevalent with 

 this variety. The pullet was beautiful in colour. We think this 

 pen should have had the cup. The Blues were moderately good ; 

 we should very much like to see some good breeders take them 

 in hand, it would pay them well, as we know of no other variety 

 that might be so quickly improved and brought to the front. 

 The White Dorkings were generally creamy; we thought them 

 a poor class. 



Spanish do not generally muster so strongly so early in the 

 year — there were sixteen entries. The first-prize pullet was a 

 nice bird, with rather a good lobe; the cockerel had a peculiar 

 cut in the comb, which might have arisen from being wired up, 

 or some accidental cause ; we also thought him wry-tailed. We 

 think this must have escaped notice, otherwise he would not 

 have been in the prize list. The running was very close between 

 the second and third pens, and we think we should have placed 

 the third (Beldon) iu the front. Pen Gl, highly commended. 

 (Eodbard), contained a pretty cockerel; pen 63 (Brown) a nice 

 cockerel, but out of condition, and matched with an inferior 

 pullet. 



Cochins had four classes, all good. In the Buff the compe- 

 tition was very close between Mr. Percival and Lady Gwyder. 

 The Judges gave the preference to the first-rnentioned ; but we 

 think we should have preferred the latter. The first-prize birds 

 were evenly matched in colour, but the cock was narrow in 

 the back, and much lighter than the second. The hen was also 

 slightly striped in the hackle. The secoud-priz*^ cockerel was a 

 grand bird, but tinged a little in the wing with white._ The 

 pullet was sound in colour, but deficient of leg-feathering, or 

 rather toe-feathering, the middle toe was almost bare. The 



Partridge did not please us so much as the Buffs ; in the 

 cockerels we noticed the leg-featheriag was not so good as usual, 

 aud the pullets, with the exception of one or two poos, not BO 

 well pencilled. The first-prize cock was a fine one ; the second 

 should have been left out for the same reason that we have sug- 

 gested with regard to the first-prize Dorking and Spanish. The 

 third we liked ; the pullet was good, but not equal to one we 

 remember Mr. Tudmau to have shown at this season of the 

 year at Croydon about two years back. Pen 95 (Coleridge) con- 

 tained a nicely pencilled pullet. Blacks have improved, and 

 mustered sixteen entries. Whites were a good class : the first- 

 prize pen corktained a charming pair; the second-prize cock 

 had a very white lobe. Pen 130 were small ; in other respects 

 we liked them better than the second. 



Brahmas. — The Dark class contained thirty-four entries, and 

 the competition was very close. In the first-prize pen we found 

 a beautiful pullet, but rather a coarse cockerel; second a fine 

 cockerel, well shaped, aud good in colour. Miss Douglas Pennant 

 showed four pens, which were greatly admired. The cockerel 

 in pen 152 will when more developed be very difficult to beat ; 

 the pullet was well pencilled, but rather small. Mr. Leno 

 showed a splendid pullet, well shaped, almost perfect in pencil- 

 ling, but rather deficient in leg feathers. The Light class 

 exceeded the Dark in numbers. They had forty-nine entries. 

 The best cockerel was in the first pen, but as a pair we preferred 

 Mr. Lingwood's, pen 208, which were awarded the third prize. 



Game, — The winning Black Red cockerel was a splendid 

 chicken, and must have given the Judges no trouble iu making 

 their selection. Pen 221, third prize, aud also the local prize, 

 deserved his position, but he was badly dubbed. In Black Red 

 pullets we thought peu 263 (Pope) deserved some notice. The 

 other Game classes were well judged, and pleased us as indicat- 

 ing a moat satisfactory season. 



Hamharghs were beautiful. The Silver cockerel in pen 410 

 was a magnificent bird, exquisitely marked in the tail ; his 

 partner was also a beauty. 



Polish. — Blacks only five entries, out of which two (Unsworth) 

 were marked as arriving "too late for competition." In the Any 

 variety class Mr. Adkius again won all the prizes ; his two first 

 pens appeared unapproachable. 



Of French fowls Houdans were a splendid lot. First-prize 

 cockerel very fine, but we doubt if we shall often see him in the 

 prize list, as his comb will be considered a strong objection by 

 some judges. The Creves were, if possible, superior to the 

 Houdans, and we think Mr. Dring was fairly beaten this time. 

 Malays a grand lot, and seventeen entries. In this class 

 Mr. Hinton showed the best-looking pen, but in this case the 

 crooked appearance of the back did not escape the Judge ; they 

 were unnoticed. 



In the Americans, Brown Leghorns, White Leghorns, and a 

 pen of Plymouth Bocks competed. Silkies followed, of which 

 there were some admirable specimens. For Any other variety 

 the first prize went to a good pen of Minorcas. 



Bantams. — In Game Mr. Anns achieved another great victory, 

 but not we think with his Brighton bird; the cockerel we con- 

 sidered here not so good in the head, but in other respects 

 superior. The Brown Reds were moderate. In the Any variety 

 class Mr. Brownlie again won with his beautiful Piles ; the 

 cockerel we think the best we have seen for a long time. Blacks 

 were a strong class and well judged. In the Sebrights Mr. Leno 

 has at length had to succumb, a very magnificent pen of Golds 

 belonging to Mr. Braund winning ; they were only entered at 

 ten guineas, a bargain which we have no doubt was quickly 

 caught at. 



Ducks. — Aylesbury a small class, Mr. Fowler winning easily. 

 Boueus very large, and containing four or five first-class pens. 

 In Blacks Mr. Sainsbury cleared off all the prizes. 



Very large Selling classes completed the poultry, and here we 

 found the best Spanish cockerel in the Show. 



The Pigeons were well represented ; the entries reached four 

 hundred. It was gratifying to hear the very great satisfaction 

 experienced by nearly all tlae old fanciers at the judging. 



Carriers. — Among the old cocks we very much liked Pen 1021, 

 and thought he deserved a position iu the Show. Mr. Yardley 

 won with a grand bird, having all the essentials of a Carrier. The 

 young class contained a splendid lot, nearly all the birds being 

 noticed ; next the winners we liked the pens shown by Lt.-Col. 

 Hassard and Mr. Hammock. In Pouters, Whites carried both 

 firstprizes over the Pieds. Barlis. — We preferred Mr. Maynard's 

 pen to the winners. jltmo)i(Zs were a beautiful class. Dragoons. 

 — Red and Yellow did not come out so strongly in number as we 

 anticipated, but the quality was first-rate. The Any other colour 

 was a large class, and must have given the Judges a little 

 trouble. Owls.— In Foreign Mr. Allen won with a superb pair, 

 but a little out of condition. Turbits, Fantails, and Jacobins 

 were a fine lot, and the awards satisfactory. 



Dorkings (Colouroil).— 1 and dip. S. Newict. Hinton St. Georfio. 8, J. 

 White, VVarlaby. Norlhallerlnn. S. T. C. Burnell. Mielieldever. 4. L. O. W. 

 Straffortl. West Mulling he. .7. Tavior. 



DoKKiyoB (Blue).— I, R. Gamon, Uurkin?. 2. H. Allen, Wood Green. 8, J. W. 

 Putney, Dorking. Local Prize, J. T. Caetell, Oxiord. 



