496 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE, 



[ December 2, 1875. 



not carry his tail quite to our fancy. Second a pretty bird, not 

 heavily enongh feathered on shank, and his legs are too near 

 together. Third very good, but less than his owner's other 

 bird. We much admired the shape of Mr. Bennett's very highly 

 commended bird; and Mr. Percival'B highly commended bird 

 \>onld be a wiener in most shows. Hens. — Breeders of this 

 variety seem to stick to it. Mr. Stretch is a veteran exhibitor, 

 and is not behind the times. His cup hens are magnificent in 

 size and form, and more Grouse-like than most winners of late. 

 Sfcond fine in pencilling, good in form, and fairly large. Third 

 cricp in pencilling, but not a match; the smaller one is good in 

 shape but has a bad comb. Pullets. — We are glad to see that 

 "Brown" is not merely a name in schedules and catalogues 

 now, but that many darker birds are not only shown but win. 

 The first pullets are excellent, one in particular ; they are well 

 marked on breast and wings, especially considering that they 

 are of the darker colour. Second are not so big a pair, but well 

 matched, and their pencilling is like that of good Dark Brahmas. 

 Third in Cimmerian darkness appeared to us good and of a rich 

 brown colour. 



White Cochins. — The cocks are a magnificent class, and in 

 better feather than most old birds. We fancy this may result 

 from the breed being so much kept indoors. The cup bird is 

 spotlessly white, and perfection in leg-feathering. His back does 

 not rise quite enough towards the tail to please us, but this may 

 only be the result of the discomfort of a pen. Second a little 

 hocked, with a well-shaped comb, a bird which we think does 

 not show himself to advantage in a pen. We preferred the 

 third ; he is very white and finely feathered. Mrs. Acton 

 Tindal's very highly commended bird, though small, is stylish, 

 and jist the form we admire. Cockerels.— No. 1 is low on leg, 

 magnificent in thigh, fluff, and leg feathering; 2 a big bird, 

 which should be a better cock than cockerel ; 3 a nice short- 

 backed bird, rather yellow. We like an nnnoticed bird of Mr. 

 Tomlinson's ; heavy feathering inside the legs mast have pulled 

 him down. Hens. — The cup pair are very grand. We have 

 not seen such since the days when Mr. Woodgate gained a 

 series of victories with two renowned hens. Second are smaller 

 but very white, and we thought one in shape the most perfect 

 model we have ever seen. Third were far from the first and 

 second, possibly scurfy on the legs, but one of them good in 

 shape. Pallets — The first are much a-head; the same type of 

 birds as Mrs. Acton Tindal's hens. Second a good pair, large 

 and apparently young, a little yellow. Third a pretty pair, 

 rather set in figure, and one yellowish. 



Black Cochins are making great strides. In cocks Mr. Darby 

 has it all his own way. First is a very pretty bird ; he is better 

 and more gainly in shape than most birds of the coloured varie- 

 ties. The better Blacks certainly have much of the shapely 

 form of the early-imported Cochins. Second is a little too high 

 in comb, and does not rise quite so well in back towards the 

 tail ; his legs are yellower. Hena. — The first-prize pair are large, 

 but we do not think them the best in the clnss. One has a 

 high, twisted, white comb, and the white extends on to the side 

 of the head; her beak too is very crooked. Mr. Hargreave's 

 pen (913) were too late for competition, or they must have won. 

 One of them is a true Cochin in form. Second are a well-formed 

 pair of pallets, one of them somewhat under-feathered. Two 

 pens received very highly commended cards, which testifies to 

 the improvement in the breed, for not long ago it was difiicalt 

 to find pens fit for prize cards. Mr. Hewitt judged the Cochins 

 and Malays. 



Malays have some faithful admirers, but they never can be- 

 come a popular breed. The first cock is an enormous very dark 

 bird with willow-coloured legs, which struck us as a blemish* 

 Second a less bird of bright colour ; a nice White is highly com- 

 mended. The class for cockerels is good. First a magnificent 

 bird. Second, too, will make a fine cock. The cup hen is good 

 and moderately dark. Second very dark ; a light cinnamon 

 one receives a very highly commended. The first pullet is very 

 hard in feather and clean made. The second took oar fancy — 

 an immense bird of a rich dark brown colour. 



Creves have but two classes. They have been beaten by 

 their Houdan cousins — a breed more suited to our climate. The 

 first cock is not very large bat in spruce condition, glossy and 

 black in tuft with a splendid beard. Second a large bird with 

 little beard and very irregular tuft. Third looks old and done- 

 up, though large; he has the most enormous taft we ever saw. 

 Mr. R. Fowler's highly commended bird appeared to us a per- 

 fect model Cruve in form, though a little undersized. Hens. — 

 The cap pair well deserve their honour; they are grand birds 

 and black in tuft. Second good also, though not so large. Third 

 a little brown but well placed. 



HonDANS must certainly be most hardy birds, the old cocks 

 look so well-moulted and sprightly, and this too in the most 

 draughty part of that most draughty building. We are glad to 

 see that the Judges are not now going in solely for the very dark 

 birds ; the winners are for the most part evenly speckled and 

 moderate in darkness. The first-and-cnp cock is a noble bird in 

 form, but shows an inoliuatiou to colour in neck-hackle and wings. 



Second, an evenly-marked bird, handsome in tuft and head and 

 bright in condition. Mr. Dring has a good dark bird unnoticed. 

 Cockerels. — The Judge must easily have " spotted " the first; 

 he is inclined to be dark, with a splendid beard. Second is a 

 splendid bird, which we liked much. These classes must be 

 difficult to judge ; we know no birds which look so different at 

 different times in a pen as Houdans do. Hens. — Mr. Vallance's 

 first hens are magnificent, very evenly speckled ; their combs 

 are singularly globular for Houdans, and their beads large. 

 Second are much the same in colour, but less. 1082 (Qaibell), 

 highly commended, good. Pullets. — Houdans must be a variety 

 which grow lato, for there is much difference in the size of hens 

 and pullets. First pair are not very remarkable, one of them 

 has already some scale on feet ; second have fine tufts, but one 

 appeared to us wry-tailed; third we liked as well as any in 

 the class. 

 Mr. Baily judged all the French classes. 



Spanish. — Decrepitude seems too much the normal state of 

 Spanish cocks. In this class Mr. Jones takes both prizes and 

 the cup. His birds are very smooth in face ; the wattles of the 

 second are very open — an eyesore, in our opinion. Cockerels. — 

 We much like the form of the first. His tail feathers are well 

 formed and grown — a minor point certainly, but still not to be 

 forgotten when so many rotten-tailed birds are shown ; his 

 face is large and not abnormally developed. Second has a well- 

 serrated comb, a nice face and indifferent carriage. Third a 

 smaller face, but he is a pretty bird in good condition. Hens. — 

 The cup hens are fresh-looking, with good round face. Second 

 another excellent pair in blooming condition. Mrs. Allsopp'a 

 birds do credit to her feeder. Pullets. — Both prize pairs are 

 good in head and condition, the first slightly the largest. 

 Mr. Baily judged the Spanish classes. 



Hamisurohs. — Black H»mbarghs are fortunate in having two 

 cups offered them, but the birds shown well merit them. The 

 variety now seems a popular and a thoroughly-established one. 

 The first cock is perfection in comb, col mr, and style. Second 

 not quite so stylish, but very good. Third one of the brightest- 

 coloured birds we have ever seen ; his sickles are fine, and hia 

 comb as nature made it. There are many other excellent birds 

 in the class. Hens. — The cap pairs are beautiful in form, gloss, 

 and comb. Second well placed; their combs are even and 

 pretty. Third are not quite so perfectly matched. We fear 

 Mr. Serjeantson must be giving up the breed, his birds are priced 

 so low. 



Golden pencilled cocks. — The cup goes to Mr. Walker's beauti- 

 ful bird, which we have noticed in a former report Second 

 carries bis tail too much up, his comb is natural, his neck-hackle 

 dark. Third somewhat too coppery in tail, and with a flaw in 

 comb ; he is an old bird. We like Messrs. Duckworth's highly- 

 commended bird. Silver cocks are few, and not very good. 

 First has a pretty comb and fine sickles, fairly edged. Second 

 shows a little brown in tail. Third is yotinger, and a pretty 

 little bird. 



Golden pencilled hens. — Here the Judge has gone in for the 

 smaller and finer barring. The first pair are both well-barred, 

 one better than the other ; their ground colour is rich. Second 

 a pretty pair, better marked on breast than one often sees them. 

 Third not well-barred in tail. Good birds with the coarser bar- 

 ring are shown by the Duke of Sutherland, Messrs. Duckworth, 

 and Mr. Davison. Silver hens.— The cup pair are singularly 

 clean in neck-hackles, and well-barred all over. Second and 

 third fair average birds. 



Golden-spangled cocks. — The cup bird has one of the best 

 combs we ever saw on a spangled bird. He is marked " sold." 

 Second is not so heavily spangled, and has not such a good 

 comb. We preferred the third, a very large bird. Silver cocks. 

 — We do hope that combs are now less trimmed in these classes 

 than formerly. First is a noble bird with grand carriage, fine 

 comb, and round spangling. Second too heavy in comb, well 

 marked. Third not perfect in comb, but we like his round 

 spanglings. Hens. — The cup is awarded to the first Golden 

 pair; they are beau tif ally marked, but certainly the hena of 

 this variety do not equal the Silvers in form. Second are in 

 better condition than most birds in the class. Third with small 

 very round spangling. Silver hens. — First are very pretty, their 

 spangling moderately heavy. Second much the same, but not 

 BO well marked on wing. Third have smaller but very even 

 spangling. All the class are remarkable for good condition. Mr, 

 Dixon judged the Hambarghs. 



We must defer our criticism on the remaining poultry classaa 

 till next week, so many are they, and require careful inspection 

 from the closeness of competition. We may remark as a post- 

 script that since we wrote the earlier part of our report green 

 food has been given daily to all the birds. We thank the 

 authorities gratefully for this attention. 



Mr. James Walker's first-prize White gander and Goose weigh 

 58 lbs. 9 ozs. ; Mr. J. K. Fowler's second-prize White gander 

 and Goose, 52 lbs. 4 ozs. Mr. James Walker's first-prize Gray 

 gander and Goose weigh 51 lbs. 9 ozs.; Mr. F. E. Richardson's 

 second prize, 39 lbs. 6 ozs. Mr. Edward Arnold's first-prize Turkey 



