Details of S//oir Maxageme.vt. i6i 



selves, would solve all difficulties, and prevent the complaint which Mr. Martin makes with only 

 too much reason. 



Constant supervision of each end of every main alley has of late been too plainly proved 

 necessary, in order to prevent injury or mutilation of successful birds by disappointed rivals. Such 

 occurrences always damage an exhibition, though if due care be taken, it is hard to see how 

 a committee can be blamed in such cases, which no care can absolutely prevent if there be the 

 determination to indulge in such meanness. The unbridled rivalry which can lead to this and 

 similar rascality is the greatest curse of the poultry fancy ; but while it never has been and 

 probably never can be altogether put down, we are glad to have remarked through many years that 

 it is always confined to a wretched minority. All that can be done is to stamp upon it wherever it 

 is found ; and while we would, as a rule, prefer legal means for the protection of society, we confess 

 we should heartily rejoice to see the scoundrel who could for mere spite pull out the tail of 

 a brother fancier's bird, if caught in the act, receive any amount of " lynching " in the exhibition 

 hall which did not involve actual personal injury. 



Regular removal and breakage of eggs laid during a show is of the greatest importance. 

 If left in the pens, breakage is sure to occur, and the birds thus acquire the habit of egg-eating. 

 Speaking for ourselves, we would rather even )iave valuable eggs stolen than this should happen ; 

 but neither should be possible in a well-conducted show. 



The manner in which the awards are stated in the catalogue is of considerable importance to 

 the pleasure and comfort of visitors. The best plan of all is to have them in the left-hand margin 

 of the page, to the left of the pen numbers ; and if properly managed this plan is also the simplest 

 and least troublesome. The printers should be directed to get up the catalogue with a " three- 

 em quad " (a space known to them) at the beginning of every line, and to set up the various 

 awards, abbreviated thus — 1st. & cup, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, H-com., and Com. — to this measure or width, 

 before the awards are made. Then as the vari lus instalments of the awards are forwarded (which 

 they should be at frequent intervals) to the printing-office, the " quadrat " is withdrawn and the 

 award dropped in its place, and the whole may thus be ready for press almost as soon as the judges 

 have done. The next best plan is to publish at the end a list in full of the prizes in each class, 

 which is the method in vogue in Birmingliam ; and the worst of all, perfectly disgusting in the 

 trouble it gives, is to publish separately, and loosely slipped in the catalogue, a mere list of the pen 

 numbers which have taken the prizes. 



One catalogue should be kept exclusively to mark off pens sold, as well as entering them in the 

 sales book. Claiming pens entered below their value formerly occasioned much ill-feeling, when, 

 as nearly always happened, several wanted them. This difficulty was obviated at Birmingham, and 

 afterwards at several other shows, by putting all the prize pens up to auction, and dividing the 

 excess over the catalogue price between the exhibition and the exhibitors. This expedient answers 

 perfectly at the largest shows, but not at the smaller, for want of competition to pay its expenses ; 

 but we may point out that all the advantages of it may be secured by a simple rule, providing that 

 if after the sales office be opened more persons than one claim a pen simultaneously, it shall be sold 

 to the one who will give the most for it, biddings being unrestricted, and excess divided as on the 

 other plan. In this way delay over the many prize pens which are not wanted, and the expenses 

 of a sale, are avoided, while the additional price over any great bargain is equally secured. But 

 however this matter may be managed, notice of all sales made during any day should be dis- 

 patched to the exhibitor of the pen by the night's post. Neglect of this occasions needless 

 anxiety when the sold pens fail to arrive along with the others at the close of the exhibition. 



The last feed of corn before the show closes should be scantier than usual, and the last feed of 



