January 22, 1S74. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOBTIOULTOKE AND COTTAGE QAEDENEK, 



89 



only mistake we note are the two Dorking classes, in which 

 Dark, Grey, and White are made to compete. No judge ought 

 to be askecl to decide upon the comparative merits of such an 

 unfair mixture. There were 1400 entries last year, and pro- 

 bably there will be more this, for the management has always 

 been very good. 



BABBIT PRIZES AT NORTHAMPTON SHOW. 



In answer to " K." in your Journal of the 15th inst., I am 

 requested to state that the cause of the schedule for Rabbits 

 not being quite so liberal as last year is precisely that hinted at 

 by your correspondent in the fourth paragraph of his letter. 

 Last year a number of fanciers and several of the Committee 

 subscribed specially for the cups, but a defaulter in one of the 

 classes was a loss to the Committee of three guineas. This 

 year we have but one cup promised, and but one subscription ; 

 and it was decided that this should go to the Angora class. A 

 number of fanciers may say they would have been pleased to 

 subscribe ; but I have always found when recourse has been had 

 to an appeal of this sort, that the proffered support has been so 

 hampered with restrictions as to make it impossible for the 

 Committee to avail themselves of it. But if your readers are 

 inclined to give the Committee anj' special sum as a prize for 

 any particular class without any other restriction than that the 

 sum shall go as an extra prize, I shall be moat happy to cor- 

 respond with them. 



As regards the class for the " Heaviest," it has been a loss ; and 

 the Committee considered it best to reserve the money as extra 

 prizes, should any of the other classes display unusual merit. — 

 WILLIA.M HuapHKEYs, Secretary. 



THE NATIONAL PERISTERONIC SOCIETY'S 

 SHOW. 



This was on the 13th inst., being for the fifth time held at the 

 Crystal Palace. It fully sustained the high repute of this Society. 

 We hope fanciers will witness such exhibitions heralding-in 

 " many new years " to come, inasmuch as they present peculiar 

 characteristics, standing alone, or nearly so, as non-competitive 

 gatherings. The conditions of a non-competitive show neces- 

 earily bring together some selected specimens of the loft, whilst 

 in this amateur exhibition the different varieties of Pigeons 

 massed together are to the public, and especially to the young 

 fancier, a good practical lesson on the materials that constitute 

 practically a breeding stud of Pigeons. 



Mr. Esquilant's contribution of twenty Blue and Powder 

 Blue Owls, a strain he has possessed for many years, greatly 

 pleased the cognoscenti. Opposite to it stood another most 

 interesting pen of Owls, Yellow, and of the old English type. 

 We may at last look forward to the resuscitation of this choice 

 variety, and thank Mr. Whitehead for his efforts. 



Mr. South contributed Dragoons, Blue, Silver, Yellow, and 

 Ked, also Turbits, Jacks, and Baldheads. We praise Blues and 

 Silvers, yet keep a little extra admiration for Yellows. A just 

 critic would, on viewing Mr. South's pen of Yellow Dragoons, 

 BO level in quality and up to the standard for colour, declare the 

 fancy justified in selecting the soft richness of the yellow tint 

 as the recherche colour of the Pigeon. Mr. Stevenson, of 

 Tooting, a recently-elected member, sent his first contribution, 

 a good pen of YeUow Turbits. Mr. Bull's Jacobins, good in 

 colour, were not lacking in quality. 



English Pouters found but one exhibitor — Mr. Esquilant. It 

 appeared that the Pouter, like the prophet, is not esteemed in 

 his own country, for we observed no less than three foreign 

 varieties of this bird sent by Mr. Vander Moersch. The same 

 gentleman also penned a good collection of Fantails, which 

 variety was also contributed by Mr. Esquilant. 



The critical Short-face fanciers who visited the Palace were 

 not disappointed. They lingered long before the pens of Messrs. 

 Esdeu, Ford, Merck, and Heritage, for there stood before them 

 the twenty Black Mottles of Mr. Esden, all of the highest 

 quaUty, side by side with his beautiful Black, Yellow, and Red 

 Beards. Then followed Mr. Ford's Almonds, forming of them- 

 selves a sight worthy of a visit to Sydenham ; then Mr. Merck's 

 two pens of old and young birds, a splendid collection; then Mr. 

 Heritage's, though last not least, a pen of birds as near the standard 

 for head and beak as they can be bred. It speaks well for the 

 fancy that a bird requiring for its production so much patient 

 and scientific care should be so numerous and so beautiful as all 

 the old fanciers were deUghted to affirm. Some good Baldheads 

 were shown by Mr. Newman ; Jacobins and Tirrbits of a high 

 class by Mr. Fasten, of Hull. 



Mr. Jones had pens of Owls, English and Foreign, also some 

 choice Turbits. Mr. Tegetmeier sent a dozen Blue Dragoons, 

 and a pen of the now fashionable Homing Flyers. The fine 

 condition and super-excellent quality of his Dragoons could not 

 fail to arrest the observation of a fancier. Mr. Hedley's Barbs 

 contained many of the known specimens iu the fancy, and some 



young birds worthy of their parents. Mr. Gill also exhibited a 

 pen of very good Barbs. 



The Toy varieties were not forgotten. Four were supplied by 

 Mr. Vander Meersch ; Black Fantails by Mr. Whitehead ; Arch- 

 angels by Mr. Jones ; Messrs. Huggins, and the Honorary Secre- 

 tary, Mr. S. C. Betty, also added their quota of Yellow and Red 

 Dragoons. 



At all previous shows organised by the National Peristeronio 

 Society Carriers have been iu force. In fact they have, on all 

 these occasions, formed the puce da rcsi:ifancr, which no fancier, 

 however keen his appetite, has pronounced stinted or deteriorated. 

 The list of the Carrier exhibitors comprised the names of Col. 

 Hassard, Messrs. Square, Heritage, Ord, Hedley, Crisp, Feltham, 

 and Baunton Ford. That the Carrier is the perfect type of 

 Pigeon beauty was unmistakeably apparent in some birds, prin- 

 cipally young oues, shown by Col. Hansard, Messrs. Square, 

 Heritage, and Hedley. Cue young Black cock, the property of 

 Mr. Square, is not far from beiug the best bird of his season. Col. 

 Hassard's collection comprised Blacks, Duns, Blues, and Silvers, 

 just the type of bird we recollect he possessed some twelve 

 years ago, and which the fancy gladly welcome again. Mr. 

 Heritage's row of twelve Carriers, exhibited singly, would, 

 unsupported, have rendered the Carrier contingent complete. 

 Exhibited together with the high-class birds of Messrs. Hedley, 

 Baunton Ford, Ord, and Crisp, the Carrier element crowned the 

 success of the Show. 



ABERDEEN POULTRY AND PIGEON SHOW. 



{Concluded from page 67.) 



There were eighteen entries in the class for young Blue cocks 

 bred in 1873. Not only was this the largest class, but it contained 

 some birds of very fine quality. No. 319 (J. C. Lyell), was a bird 

 of perfect marking and large crop, but with too heavy limbs. 

 No. 351 (T. Rule), also well marked, but faulty in style of limb. 

 No. 353 (J. C. LyeU), first prize ; some discussion was created as 

 to whether he was entitled to his position, but he was without 

 doubt a good bird and perfect in marking, with finely-covered 

 legs and toes. Being only a late August Inrd he bids fair to turn 

 out fine. No. 357 (R. Fulton), was highly commended, and a 

 good-looking cock all over. No. 300 (G. Ure), commended, 

 wanted pinion and had an imperfectly-cut moon, but in style 

 he left little to be desired. No. 301 (A. Frame), wanted bib and 

 pinion to set-off an otherwise handsome young cock. No. 362 

 (J. Mitchell), was looked upon as very matured for a young one. 

 Nos. 363, 364, third-prize, 365, and 300, second-prize, were aU 

 Mr. G. Ure's, and aU fine. No. 303 might have changed places 

 with one of the prize birds, being well marked and extremely 

 handsome. 



Young Black cocks were seven entries, and the first was 

 No. 307 (D. Stewart), highly commended, finely marked, and thin 

 in girth. He seemed rather ill on the last day of the Show. 

 No. 308, second prize, was a great bird to be only five months old, 

 his catalogue age. Some doubts were expressed as to his being 

 a bird of 1873, but we heard his owner (Mr. G. Schaschke) give the 

 date of his hatching— viz., the 4th June — from which we calcu- 

 late that he ought to have been entered as seven months old. 

 No. 370 (J. Grant), third prize, was a thick bird, not well marked, 

 and too rough in his leg-feathering. No. 371 (F. M'Crae), was 

 small but neat and evenly marked, though dull in colour. 

 No. 372 (G. Ure), the first-prize bird and also winner of the medal 

 for young cocks, was a grand, upstanding, slender, and long- 

 limbed bird, but scarcely correct in marking. No. 373 (J. 

 Mitchell), commended, was a good style of bird, well marked 

 and long, not exactly right in shape of limb. 



Young Red cocks. We would designate this class, which con- 

 tained eight pens, as the worst as regards Pouter qualities in the 

 Show. No. 376 (J. Wright), was no doubt the best amoug them 

 as to length and shape, but almost solid-breasted, without pinion, 

 and of only fair colour. None of the others warrant a minute 

 description. 



Of the five young Yellow cocks the three shown by Mr. Ura 

 were first, second, and third, but none of the five was perfect 

 in colour. In other respects, however, No. 385, the firsi-prize 

 bird, was good, being a fine, upstanding, and particularly stylish 

 cock. Had he been of a richer colour he might have been 

 entitled to the silver cup for the best young cock in the Show. 

 We have no doubt he will be heard of again. 



Young White cocks brought out seven, and No. 387 (M'Gill 

 Skinner), first prize, was not worthy of his place ; we think 

 either No. 388 (R. Fulton), second prize, or No. 392 (J. White), 

 third prize, were in our opinion the best, but the latter had the 

 fault of being slightly hog-backed, though otherwise a raking 

 young cock. The quaUty on the whole in this class was good. 



Blue Pouter hens of any age brought out ten entries, and the 

 first on the list. No. 394 (D. Stewart), although unnoticed, was 

 worthy of a prize, and certainly one of the best four in the lot 

 being particularly handsome, thin in girth, and well marked. 

 No. 395 (J. C. Lyell), commended, was also a fine hen with a 

 capital bib and moon. No. 397 (A. H. Stewart), third pri^e, was 



