LISTER'S AND WOODS' HENS. 



ago I was an enthusiastic breeder of short-faced 

 Antwerps, and I possessed a fairly good stud, 

 although a small one. Being desirous of improv- 

 ing my knowledge of the breed, I paid a visit 

 to Mr. John Lister, of Longlee, Keighley, who 

 was at that particular time one of the most 

 successful exhibitors of Antwerps in the Fancy. 

 His stud consisted of some fifty birds. Mr. 

 Lister first showed me the cocks, which were a 

 grand lot, and amongst which were several that 

 were unbeatable — top scorers, whenever shown. 

 We then went to see the hens. Ah ! my young 

 friends, here was the secret of his success ! 

 Nineteen hens in one loft, and such hens ! Not a 

 bad one amongst the lot ! I never had before and 

 have never seen since, such a magnificent lot of 

 hens. John Lister's name will be found in the 

 prize list of almost every important show since 

 the period I have named, and at the last Man- 

 chester Show, with eight exhibits, won five 

 firsts and two thirds. 



The other instance is that of Mr. Richard 

 Woods, of Mansfield, the one-time renowned 

 breeder of Dragoons. At the time I speak of I 

 resided at Sutton-in-Ashfield, three miles from 

 Mansfield, and had frequent opportunities of 

 visiting Mr. Woods' lofts. I can assure my 

 readers that it was a great treat to see his wonder- 

 ful stud of birds — youngsters of the year, year- 

 lings, two-year-olds, three-year-olds ! He had, 

 in fact, such a stud of Dragoons I could safely 



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