May 7, 1874. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE QAEDENEE. 



373 



I also heard of a swarm coming off at a village eight miles off 

 on the I'Jth of the same month. — A. H. Muitin. 



THE MAGPIE. 



The Magpie is one of the most beautiful of the Toys. It ex- 

 cites admiration wherever it is seen. The specimen I shall 

 describe is a perfectly-marked bird, and the winner of first 

 prizes. He is two years old, and has the blood as well as the 

 colour, his young ones being like him. He is a golden yellow 

 bird with white wings and breast. The white of the breast is 

 marked in front by a line crossing the point of the breastbone, 

 and extending up each side to the under part of the shoulder- | 

 joint; the lines then extend backwards to a line passing directly I 

 across the vent, the ends of wbicli they intersect at the roots of j 

 the outer tail feathers of each side. All the parts (including the i 



If you will cross these with Tumblers, bo as to get the colour- 

 ing of the one and the tumbling of the other thoroughly settled 

 in the one strain, you will have as handsome a flight as ever 

 cleaved the air. A few seasons would be sufficient to accompUsh 

 the purpose, and it would be schooling yourself for higher ex- 

 periments which you will wish to try, and for which you will 

 need other knowledge than that found in books. — Dr. W. P. 

 MoRQAN. — [Atnericaii Fanciers' Journal.) 



AYR POULTRY SHOW. 



This was held, in connection with the general Agricultural 

 Show, on tha i38th and 20th of April. In entrieg it rather sur- 

 passed that of last year, being 29;i, and in 187;^, 273. In quality 

 the birds geuorally were inferior to those of last year. The best 

 represented class was the Blaok-breasted Game Banta/iiSj and 





THE MAGPIE. 



■thighs) within these boundaries are of the purest white, and, 

 where the colours are divided, the line is as sharp as though 

 cut by a knife. Beak of a yellowish-white, pearl eye, and a 

 hood broad and well shaped, feet smooth and red. He is rather 

 smaller than the common Pigeon. A Blue hen has white wings, 

 breast, and thighs, the dividing lines being the same as those 

 of the yellow bird. Her beak is dark, eye pearl, and feet red, 

 head plain ; there is a dark bar across the tail. 



In the same cage are Red and Black Magpies ; the red is of 

 a bronzed hue, and not the bright red as I should like. Black 

 and white are the original colours of the Magpie, and I think 

 the best, as the contrast is greater than in any of the others. 



From the description you perceive some are capped and others 

 are plain-headed ; the capped are in fashion just now. The four 

 colours mentioned are the standard ones — viz., a pure golden- 

 yellow, not a pale yellow ; a light blue, not a black blue ; a bright 

 red, not a bronzed red ; and jet black, with a metallic lustre that 

 must extend even to the tip of the tail. Blues and Yellows are 

 the rarest. 



The eyes must be pearl, feet red, and beak a colour corre- 

 sponding with that of the bird. 



This variety is of German origin, and bred from Tumbler 

 strains. They have almost lost the tumbling trait, though I 

 have seen them, when Hown with Tumblers, revolving with the 

 hest of them. 



the Silver Hamhurghs the worst. One of onr authorities says 

 " Many of the classes were good considering that there were no 

 English exhibitors ; nor were any efforts made to obtain them." 

 The Judge was Mr. A. Paterson, Wellington Street, Airdrie. 



The following is a list of the awards, which some of our con- 

 temporaries have given incorrectly. 



Spanish.— Biac/j or White.— \, W. M'latyre, Ochiltree. 2, A. Robertaon* 

 Kilmarnock. 3, W. Greenshield, Townholm, Kilmarnock, i, R. Mitchell, 

 Mauchline. he, ,T. Hose, Patna. c. J. Hose; A. Walker, Kilmarnock. 



DoRKisoa.— Coloured.— I, J. Jardine. Kilmarnock, 2, A. Gibb. Ayr. 3, Z. H. 

 Heys. Barrheai. Glasgow. 4. T. Smillie, Kilmarnock, he, G. Girdwooil, Ayr. 

 White.— I, R. Farrow, Dalmellington. 2, G. Arnott. Corby 'Jraipa, Dalmelling- 

 ton. n, J. Bell, Dal-nelliDRton. 4, J. Pettigrew. Sillyhole, DaliiiLllington. 



Hamucrghs. — Gohlen-spanoled. — 1, A. Beas, Hit^h Blantyre, Glasgow, 

 2, W. Janline. MiUburo. Tarbulton. 3, J. Crawford, Beith. 4. R. Cunningham, 

 Stewartou. he, G. Caithness, Carnoustie. Qjldinpencillrd.—l, 2. and 3, D. 

 Gilmimr, Kilmarnock. 4, H. Bone, Dalraellington. he. J. Coukie. Uarvel. 



UiViYiaRons.-Silver-spangkd. — 1, J. MAodrew, jun., Carnoustie. 2, A. 

 Yeudall, Galaton. 3. H. Shields, Crown Inn, Newmilus. 4, W. Husband, Kil- 

 marnock, he, J. Dunn, Galston ; R. Cameron, Stewurton ; R. Lees. Maybole. 

 Silver-pencilled —I, J. Borland, Faldib, Kilbarchan. 2 and 8, J. Stevenson, 

 Chaplehall. Airdrie. 4, R. Cunuin^hani. 



CociiiN-CHiNAfl— 1, K. Mitchell, Mauchline. 2, R. Fowlds, Riocarton. 8, T. 

 Bruce, Busby, Glasgow. 4, J. Pollock, Buaby, Glaagow. he, A. Hutchiaon, 

 Stranraer; Miaa Kuolt, Dumfries; J. Clark. Kiccarton. 



Scotch-Gkeys— 1, J.Fulton. Beith. 2, A. Danlop, Paisley. 3, H. Beaton, 

 Horlford. 4, T. Wallace. Loans, he, J. Bell. 



Brahma P^jotbas — 1, Capt. WiUison, Kilmarnock. 2, A. Robertson, Kilmar- 

 nock 3, R. Maxwell, Dumfries. 4, Mrs. Kilgour, Noltmyre, St. QaivoK. /ic, 

 Capt, WiUison. 



Game.— Biacfc and Brown Beds.— I, J. Williamson, Johnstone. 2, Z, H. Hcys, 

 Barrhead, Glasgow. 8, Miaa B. P. Frew, Sinclairtowu, Kirkcaldy, i, Mrs. 



