484 



JOUENAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK, 



[ November 26, 1874. 



• distinctly into view; down they giadually come, circling and 

 tumbling as before, until, with one last tumble and pitch, they 

 settle all about you, showing as little appearance of fatigue as 

 the high-mettled racehorse after a two-mile heat. They rush 

 for the loophole8, are soon inside, and attacking the food provided 

 for them with appetites such as only such exercise can give. 

 Here, in their loft, they remain confined until the usual hour 

 for morning exercise comes round again, when, if the weather is 

 bright and clear, they are indulged with another fly. 



In flying birds care should be taken not to allow a hen out 

 that is just about laying, nor if a pair has eggs, to allow both to 

 fly together, as they may fly so long as to allow the eggs to get 

 cold. Or, again, if it is the morning when you let them fly, and 

 the pair go out together, the cock will be likely to leave the flight 

 after flyiug a short time, and come back to the nest; his doing 

 so will be very apt to cause the whole flight to settle. I should 

 greatly like to have this amusement become general, and to all 

 lovers of this fancy can truly say, nothing in this way can give 

 you more pleasure than in traiuing and watching a flock of 

 high-flying Tumblers. — Blue Jacobin. — (American Fanciers' 

 Jotirnal.) 



MESSENGER PIGEONS. 

 One lesson taught by the war between France and Germany 

 was the value ot well-trained Carrier Pigeons in all besieged 

 cities, and both countries are now taking steps to procure a good 

 supply. The Germans have established Pigeon stations at 

 Hamburg, Metz, Berlin, Cologne, and the fortresses of Magde- 

 burg, Wesel, and Miuden, and the Government has stimulated 

 the creation of Pigeon-flying clubs, one of which, ironically 

 called " The Concordia," has recently flown a number of birds 

 from Paris to Cologne, so that they might know their way in 

 case of an emergency. Several of those Pigeons flew the dis- 

 tance in seven hours, thus attaining a very high rate of speed, 

 but it must be added that the Germans have purchased the best 

 Carriers procurable in Belgium. At a sale in Brussels the other 

 day sixty Pigeons realised four thousand francs, or two and a 

 half guineas each, the whole of them being bought for Germany. 

 In France, upon the other hand, M. Geoffroy St. Hilaire, the 

 Director of the Jardin d'Acclimatation, has induced the Minister 

 of War to sanction the establishment of a " military dovecote," 

 which is to contain some 45U Piteous, provided by two of the 

 most Buccessful breeders in Belgium. A sum of money has 

 been placed at M. St. Hilaire's disposal, and with the progeny 

 of these birds he will soon be in a position to people the dove- 

 cotes which are to be placed in all the chief fortresses of France. 

 The Pigeons will also be trained to fly distances of three or 

 four hundred miles, and each Pigeon will be made to travel in 

 different directions ; for as a postal messenger in time of war 

 he must be able to fly to any point of the compass. Experience 

 shows, however, that the Carrier can easily be trained to do this, 

 for M. Perre de Boo, the great Belgian breeder, relates an in- 

 stance in which he brought eight Pigeons from Antwerp, and 

 let them loose at Greenwich. After wavering in their flight for 

 a few minutes they went off in the direction of London, and 

 M. de Eoo never expected to see them again ; but he received a 

 telegram from Antwerp a few hours later to say that they had 

 all returned to their dovecote, and these were Pigeons that had 

 never crossed the sea before. — (Daily Neios.) 



YORK AND DARLINGTON CANARY SHOWS. 



At the York show-room I found a much better collection of 

 birds than I expected. To the credit of Mr. E. Todd and a 

 willing, painstaking, practical Committee, every arrangement 

 had been made for the comfort of the 230 specimens entrusted 

 to their care, and likewise ot the visitors who were admitted to 

 the show-room at about midday, or soon after the judging had 

 been concluded. The Show was held in the Corn Exchange, and 

 extended over two days, the 10th and 11th inst. 



The classes commenced with Belgians, Any variety, but there 

 was nothing of a very sensational character. Mr. T. M. Eeid's 

 Yellow was a tolerable good bird, showing best for points. 

 Messrs. Orme & Ashley exhibited a very fine Clear Yellow 

 Norwich, which gained a first, having good bloom throughout. 

 Still, I have seeu a better-coloured bird this season. Messrs. 

 W. &. C. Burniston were well in for a second prize. The two 

 very highly commended birds of Mr. Adams, and the one (20), 

 exhibited by Mr. Pope, were all fine. There were a mixed lot 

 of Clear Buffs, which were not altogether to my satisfaction, 

 and not nearly so good as those which were shown at Darlington a 

 day or two afterwards. The Evenly-marked and Tidied classes 

 contained some capital birds. There were twenty-nine Crested 

 birds in both classes, but the Buffs had the best of it. A few 

 good Lizards, both Gold and Silver-spangled, were on the stages. 

 No. 112 (Gold-spangled), exhibited by Messrs. Burt &Blemstone, 

 would have looked much better had it not been clipped in the 

 back part of the cap feathers. In the Cinnamon classes Mr. 

 Adams exhibited some high-coloured birds, and gained three 



prizes out of four. Mr. Smith won a second in Buffs. Ybri-- 

 s7i(j-c birds were present in strong force. Mr. Stewart gained a 

 first in Y'ellows with a fine bird ; Mr. Myers beingin close attend- 

 ance for the second place. The latter exhibitor also deservedly 

 won first honours in Buffs. Uneven-marked Yorkshire — Mr. 

 Belk first, Mr. Hawman second, both good. 



In the Any other variety class Mr. Garbutt exhibited an ixQ- 

 meuse Buff Coppy-crested bird. First prize was accorded to 

 it, and second to a Scotch Fancy. It is somewhat amusing to 

 find those who are in the dark with respect to this particular 

 kind of bird terming them Belgians. lu the Selling class Messrs. 

 Orme Sc Ashley were at home for a first prize. Class I'J (sixes), 

 nine entries, T. Cleminson first, J. Calvert second. Mules were 

 pretty good, both Marked and Dark. There were eighteen 

 Goldfinches, but Mr. Cox won first, Mr. West being second. 

 The first-prize Bullfinch belonged to Mr. Lister, and the second 

 to Messrs. W. & C. Burniston, who also took a first prize with a 

 capital Brown Linnet, sixteen others standing behind. Mr. 

 Carrick was second with a tolerably good bird. 



What would old " Isaac of Y'ork," the Jew familiar to all 

 readers of " Ivanhoe," have thought, had he in his day wit- 

 nessed such living golden specimens of Canaries as were ehown 

 in the Corn Exchange, Y'ork? 



But I must be thinking of Darlington, where I found myself 

 wrapped-up in the " Fleece," a very appropriate and acceptable 

 term, for the weather had changed to thorough winter. After a 

 dreamy night about high-colour and high-shouldered birds, I 

 awoke to find the ground covered with snow — certainly not very 

 deep, but it brought to my mind something in the nursery- 

 rhyme style I had learned about " the fleece as white as snow," 

 rhyming with some such words " sure to go." Well, I was quite 

 ready to go, for unless I visited the Mechanics' Hall, Darling- 

 ton, to see what sort of birds there were, I should know very 

 little concerning them. The total number of entries reached 

 42G — a goodly array certainly, made-up of the best specimens 

 that could be sent. Such a display of Belgians has not been 

 seen for many a-day, Mr. Eutter being present with a dozen 

 (not ten), all on this occasion being couveyed to the Show by 

 himself. Whether anyone else had an '' interest in one," is not 

 for me now to say. There is no telling what future events may 

 bring forth. 



In taking a survey of the birds generally, I found some of the 

 best specimens I had every witnessed, especially the Norwich 

 birds. In Classes 1 and 2 Mr. Eutter took four prizes with 

 wonderfully good birds, being first and third in Y'ellows, and 

 first and second in Buffs. Mr. Butter's other birds gained high 

 commendations ; but it would extend the report too much to 

 enumerate other than the highest prizetakers. Mr. E. Hawman 

 took a good second, getting-in cleverly betwixt Mr. Butter's 

 pair. Sergeant-Major Paxton won a good third in Buffs. In 

 the next six classes for Clear Y'ellow, Clear Buff, Evenly-marked 

 Yellow, Evenly-marked Buff, Ticked Yellow, and Ticked Buff, 

 Mr. Adams, of Coventry, won twelve prizes out of eighteen. 

 His birds were a sight alone worth witnessing. Messrs. Mackley 

 took three thirds, Messrs. Brown & Gayton a first, Mr. G. Cox a 

 second, and Messrs. Moore & Wynn a third. This is something 

 like disposing of the Norwich classes. The prize list will afford 

 all particulars. In the Crested classes there were a number of 

 fine birds shown, but as is usually the case, the Buff-crests 

 were the most showy. Messrs. Mackley's first Buff was a bird 

 much to be admired. 



In the four classes of Lizards there were several firat-class 

 birds exhibited, but still they are not so good generally as I 

 have seen on many previous occasions. A great mistake was 

 committed through some of them having been moulted upon the 

 pepper diet. Instead of improving them it spoils the appear- 

 ance of the feathers. There were very few birds in the two first 

 classes that could be called at all perfect, being open-backed, 

 bad-spangled, or otherwise deficient. Messrs. Cleminson and 

 EUerton won the two highest honours with birds of good form 

 and well backed-up in spangles and caps. Mr. Eitchie took first 

 honours with a good Silver, he having also won third in Golds. 

 Mr. Bunting showed well-up for second in Silver-spangled, it 

 being by great odds the best ben out this season. This was ad- 

 mitted by competent judges. The same bird has won several 

 prizes at other shows. Mr. Fairbrass, of Canterbury, exhibited 

 the best bird by far in the Broken-cap classes, which bird, no 

 doubt, will be heard of again. 



The Cinnamon prizes nearly all fell to Mr. Adams. Messrs. 

 Moore & Wynn took third in Buff Cinnamon. Mr. Stewart re- 

 peated his York victory with a fine YorkshircYe\lo'w; Mr. Stevens 

 being second. Messrs. Oliver & Holdsworth were first in Buffs. 

 There was some trouble experienced over the Yorkshire Evenly- 

 marked birds, which proved not to be so even as they ought 

 to be. In Class 19 (No. 233), a bird exhibited by Mr. Belk had 

 been much plucked on the right shoulder, between the shoulder 

 and neck. In Class 20 (238), Evenly-marked Buff Yorkshire, a bird 

 exhibited by Mr. Thackrey was tested and found to be painted, 

 on the right eye in particular. The bird appeared to have 

 beautiful eyes and splendid finish imtil the paint was removed. 



