Angnst 26, 1875. 3 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



195 



lowest. All the liquid drainings of the hutch may thus be caught 

 in a pail or basin. Three or four of these hutches may be placed 

 one above the other, and one pail serve for all. A hutch for 

 the buck, and also for younjij Rabbits after weaning, may be 

 built the same as fig. 30, only leaving out the partition, and 

 making the whole front of lath or wire. 



Hutches built in this way are within the reach of nearly every- 

 one, and answer as good a purpose, if kept well cleaned, as those 

 more plaborately and expensively built. A very great improve- 

 meuf; to the hutch shown in fig. 30 is an extra or double floor. 

 The bottom floor should be made of tongue and grooved boards 

 painted, or else of plain boards covered with zinc; the upper 

 floor of lath, with the edges rounded, or of three-fourth-inch 

 round rode, placed about one-half inch apart, and elevated 1 inch 

 above the lower floor. This arrangement, if well covered with 

 litter, makes a very warm as well as dry hutch. Of course 

 these conveniences and others may be added by the fancier to 

 any extent his purse and fancy may warrant. The ornamenta- 

 tion may be as elaborate as he plea3es. I have heard of slate 

 floorp, polished mahogany doors with porcelain knobs, and 

 fixtures, ttc, to match, but none of these conduce to successful 

 breeding. Just as fine Rabbits may be raised in such a hutch 

 as we illustrate in figs. 29 or 30 as in a more expensive one. 

 The main requisites in a hutch are cleanlii:esp, which will keep 

 the iumates in health, and convenience for feeding, cleaning, 

 and examining the young. Keeping these in view, a simple 

 hutch is as favourable to success as a more expensive one. — 

 {Americayi Fancie'^-s' Journal.) 



LIVERTON BIRD SHOW. 



An Exhibition of Cage Birds in connection with a horti- 

 cultural show was held on the IJith inst. in a marquee in a field 

 near to the Liverfcon Mines. The Exhibition was a good one. 

 The awards : — 



CANARIES. 



BELGiANa— C/^ar or Ti^'ked Yellow or Buf.—\ anil '2, Baxter & Spence, New- 

 castle, e, E. Winter, GmsboTODsrh (^l ; W. H. Wriirht. Whiiby. 



Norwich -Clear Yelloic.—l, G. & .1. Macklpy, Norwich. 2. .T. Adams, Coren- 

 try. c, Baxter & Spence ; Moore & Wynne, Northampton. Clear Buff.—l and 

 c, G. &, J. Mackley. 2, Moore & Wynne, c, H. Winter. 



lloRwicH.—Evcnly-marked Yellow or Buf.—l. G. & J. Mfickley. 2, W. & C. 

 Buroist'in, Middlesbrough, c, G & J. Maekley ; W. H. Wright; Moore and 

 ■Wynne ; T. Cleminaon. 



Norwich —Tfcfc^rf and Varieaated YeUou\—l. G, & J. Maekley. 2, J. Adamg. 

 c, W. Marlborongh, Marske. Ticked and Variegated Buff.— I, j. Adams. 2, G. 

 and J. Maekiey. 



Norwich.— Cr^s(t-d.—l and c, G. & J. Maekley. 2, Baxter & Spence. 



CiNNAiioK.— FeUoiP.— 1 and c, Cox & Hillier, Northampton. 2, Baxter and 

 Spenca. B^tff.—I, J. Adams. 2, Baxter &, Soence. Marked.— I, Baxter and 

 Spence. 2, W. & C. Bnmiaton. c. J. Adams; Messrs. G. & J. Maekley; P. 

 Kawnaley, Bradford ; T. Tenniswood. Middlesbronsih. 



hiZKKTiS.— Golden-spangled. ~ i, Baxter & Spence. 2, J. Adams. Silver- 

 si)anolfui.-l, W. & C. BorniBton. 2, Baxter & Spence. 



YoKKsniRE. —Ci?(ir Tellow.—I, P. Rawosley. 2. W. Agar, Cistleton. c, J. 

 Thackrey, Bradford (2); J. & H. Garhutt. Great Hnrton ; C. Worth, Skelton ; 

 J. Rowland. Skelton. Clear Buff.~1, R. yimpson, Whitby. 2, G & J. Macklev. 

 c. W- Marlborough, Marske; J. Calvert, Guisborough ; J. & H. Garbutt; J. 

 Rowland. 



YonKSHiKE.—Ercnhhmarked Yellow or B^^ff.~^,P. Rawnslev. 2, T. Clemin- 

 aon, Darlington, c, W. & C Barniston; J. & H. Garbutt (2); K Fritschler, 

 Hartlepool; P. RawnsJey. Ticked or Variegated Yelloir or Buff —1, P. Rawneley. 

 S, J. Thrackrey. c, M. Jackson, Gmaborough. 



Grbrn.— 1, J. Rowland, Skelton. 2, T. Tenniswood, Middlesbrough. 



Any OTHER Vasiety.— 1, J. & H. Garbutt. 2. Baxter & Spenca. c, Baxter 

 and Spence ; J. Thackrey ; R. Pearson ; G. & J. Maekley. 



MULES. 



GoLt-FiscH AND Canaby.— Eu#.— 1, Baxter & Spence. 2, W. & C. Barniston. 

 c, G. & J. Maekley. 



Any utheb Variety.— 1 andc, Baxter & Spence. 2, W. & C. Bumiston. c, 

 J. Rowland. 



BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIRDS. 



Goldfinch.— 1, W. & C, Bnrniston. 2. Baxter & Spence. 



Ltn-net.— 1, R. Pearson. 2, T. Tenniswood. c, Baxter & Spence; W. H. 

 ■Wright. 



Any other Variety.— 1, J. Rowland. 2. W, & C. Bumiston. c, R. Rout- 

 ledge, South Stockton ; J. Fletcher. Liverton Mines. 



Parrots.- fircu.— 1. J. Parritt, Lofthouae. 2, T. Henry, Liverton Mines. 

 Green —1, J. Little, Liverton Mines. 2. G. Henrv, Liverton Mines. 



Any other Variety of Foreign Birds.— 1, G. & J. Maekley. 2, W, & C. 

 Burniston. 



The Silver Cup, given to the exhibitor who made the greatest number of 

 points, was awarded ti Messrs. Baxter & Spence with seventeen points, 

 Messrs. Maekley making fourteen. 



BELGIAN CANARIES.— No. 4. 

 Ix aformer chapter I drew attention to tbe carelessness exer- 

 cised in the removal of hampers of cages during the transit 

 from place to place. I have had cause for this complaint, for 

 it was during the return from one of the past exhibitions held 

 in the south of England that I lo6t a very good Belgian bird — 

 a prizewinner, which met its death through a want of care. 

 The cage the bird was in when delivered was a shapeless puzzle 

 to behold. This is not the only instance of loss I have met with ; 

 for since the above I failed receiving back from the same place 

 a bird and the cage it was in, the only recompense received 

 beini; words to the effect that the bird and cage were not seen 

 in tbe show room, although my two other cages containing 

 birds, which were parcellc-d-up with the lost one, put in an 

 appearance at the exhibition. This was a still greater puzzle 

 to me ; but I have long given up aU hopes of tidings respecting 



either bird or cage turning up, as did my half-dozen birds and 

 cages last year from an exhibition not one hundred miles from 

 Brighton, after they had been knocking about in London for a 

 week with my name and the bare address of London, instead of 

 Derby, upon the label. I had, before sending them from Derby, 

 properly addressed the return labels. The telegraph wires set 

 matters somewhat right, barring the annoyance and extra 

 expense I was otherwise put to. As I before remarked, it ia 

 better when birds " can be conveyed to an exhibition under the 

 immediate care of the owner," Belgian birds in particular. 



In my previous notes upon Belgian birds I referred to speci- 

 mens upon the show stages ; but before such can reach that 

 desired position they have to pass through various phases. To 

 my thinking there is no period during the youth of birds that 

 Belgians appear more attractive and charming than in their 

 nest feathers at about tbe age of six or seven weeks. A some- 

 what fascinating loveliness prevails at that particniar jnncture, 

 with great promise to the enthusiastic possessor, if he can 

 satisfy himself that true Belgian form prevails. "What with 

 the youthful freshness of plumage, the fullness of piercing 

 bright eyes, elegantly-chiselled limbs, and aristocratic forma- 

 tion, backed-up with closeness of feathers possessing a soft and 

 silky tendency, the snake-like head and neck, pipy tail, high 

 shoulders, and a pair of wings meeting each other at the tips, 

 all combined, claim the especial attention of one and all who 

 make the Belgian Canary fancy their hobby-hor.se. And there 

 are many who do so, and others who do otherwise and denounce 

 them as "ugly birds." But it is the extreme ugliness to the 

 minds of some individuals which make the birds more prizable 

 to those who fancy them. 



As the young Belgians approach a more mature stage their 

 cleanly and smart appe.arance gradually becomes marred, owing 

 to the birds beginning to undergo a change through casting-oS 

 nearly the whole of their nest feathers, and becoming more 

 freely clothed with feathers of a richer hue. At this period 

 (about eight weeks old) feathers strike forth as an additional 

 covering to the underneath portions of their bodies, after which 

 the outer body feathers bud out perceptibly. The neck and 

 head feathers are the last to cast, and it is at this particular 

 period that the lives of young Belgian birds are somewhat 

 endangered if they should happen to be exposed to draughts of 

 cooler air. 



I give the following as my modus operandi in their more 

 youthful stage and during the moulting sickness : — "When the 

 young Belgian birds have been parted from their parents die- 

 continue the green food, and after they are accustomed to 

 seed abolish the egg or soft food. Tempt them with canary 

 seed in addition to the egg food when about a month old, and 

 when you find the birds shelling the canary seed supply less of 

 soft food, until you gradually and entirely wean them from it. 

 Place each young bird when about six weeks old in a cage or 

 partition to itself, covering each cage with some light cloth. 

 Do not darken the cages. Colour, as with Norwich birds, is not 

 BO much to be aimed at as true Belgian position. Furnish each 

 cage with seed and water receptacles, besides providing one for 

 special food occasionally, such as crushed biscuit (sometimes 

 moistened with a few drops of sherry wine), a few groats, and 

 maw, lettuce, and cress seeds, with now and then a little stale 

 soaked bread, which, after the water is extracted, may be other- 

 wise further moistened with three or four drops of cod-liver oil. 

 This occasional food will nourish the birds during sickness. A 

 piece of snet may be placed betwixt the wires at the end of the 

 perch. No sugar, but a small piece of salt, which tends to 

 regulate and purify the system. Canary and millet seed may 

 be supplied. The foregoing diet will be good during the moult- 

 ing or any other time. If at any period constipation should 

 occur, put half a teaspoonful of treacle in the water. Do not 

 moult Belgian birds with cayenne pepper. 



I always prided myself in bringing my Belgian birds up to the 

 mark, and I have bred and exhibited successfully a good many in 

 my time, treating them as I have set forth above ; but in addi- 

 tion, a day or two prior to exhibiting them, add a little sherry 

 to theii' water, besides blowing them with some. The best of 

 sherry must be used. Tbe "blowing" is effected by taking 

 within the mouth half a teaspoonful of wine, and forcing the 

 same from betwixt the compressed lips over the bird in a fine 

 mist. This operation may be repeated two or three times. 

 Mind and do not make the mistake by swallowing the sherry 

 yourself. I was once instructing a would-be Belgian fancier in 

 the art of blowing sherry over birds, but he made what ap- 

 peared to me the intentional mistake of swallowing the wine, 

 remarking, " For the life of me I cannot afford to part with it." 

 The sherry " blowing" may be periodically practised during the 

 moulting, after each of which occasion (the wine, if well de- 

 livered from the mouth over the legs of the birds, having a 

 titillating effect) give your Belgian bird pupils, whilst inclined 

 to prance about somewhat and stretching their legs, a leseon or 

 two by "fiddling them up against the wall" with the thin 

 magic wand now and then occasionally rubbed on the sandy 

 floor of the cage bottom, and also gently moving it about beneath 



