Old Rules for Judging Mooneys. 375 



" Spangled Hamburgh chickens vary in colour, the Silvers particularly so, according to 

 the different strains, or even sometimes in the same strain. Some hatch out a light grey, others a 

 dark smudgy grey, and striped black and grey down the back and sides ; while of the Golden some 

 are dark brown striped with black, and others very light, almost yellow. In the first feathering 

 they also vary much in colour, some being very light— that is, the white predominating — and 

 others dark or almost black. However this may be, in the first feather it is a blotchy black and 

 white, without any true spangling. Many have their wing-feathers pencilled, others not, this being 

 not an invariable rule. There is, however, never any true spangling in the first feathers, and as a 

 rule the darkest birds in their chicken dress prove the best ; but there are exceptions to this too, so 

 that if the strain can be depended on it is best to wait for the second or adult plumage. Then it is 

 that the true character of the bird is developed, the difference being wonderful. Now all becomes 

 distinct and well-defined ; and as the new feathers grow it can soon be seen whether the chicken 

 possesses the requisites of an exhibition bird or otherwise." 



As a rule, it will be found that the cocks referred to by Mr. Beldon, to be selected from a 

 good pullet-breeding strain for breeding pullets, are somewhat darker in ground-colour and coarser 

 about the head than good exhibition birds. If possible, own brothers to winning pullets should be 

 selected ; and as soon as a good strain has been formed the amateur will of course select cockerels 

 from his own pullet-breeding strain, and vice versa. In no variety, therefore, is it so necessary as 

 in either of the Spangled Hamburghs to form as soon as possible a strain of one's own. 



Originals of the Scales of Points for judging Golden Mooney hens, referred to as in use at the 

 old village shows, are now very difficult to obtain, though they were printed for reference. They 

 have, however, been fortunately preserved in the original "Poultry Book," now rather scarce, 

 published in 1853 by Messrs. Wingfield and Johnson, from which (by permission) we copy them, as 

 most interesting to all fanciers even of the present day. The same table applied to the Silver 

 Mooneys, substituting a white for the red ground. 



POINTS. MARKS OF FEATHBRS, ETC, CONSIDERED BEST. 



1st.— Comb .... Best double ; best square ; the most erect and best piked beliini 



2nd.— Ears .... The largest and most white. [White, and a medium size. N. M.] 



3rd. — Neck .... The best streaked with green-black in the middle of the feathers ; and best fringed . 



with gold at the edges. 



4th. — Breast .... The largest moons ; best and brightest green-black, most free from being tipped with 



white cr red [omit " or red." N. M.] at the end of the moon, and the clearest and 

 best red from the moon to the bottom-colour. 



5th. Back .... The largest moons ; best and brightest green-black, least tipped with white or red 



[omit "or red." N. M.] at the edges of the moon, and the best and clearest red 

 from the moon to the bottom-colour. 



6th. — Rump .... The largest moons ; best and brightest green-black, least tipped with white or red 



[omit "or red." N. M.] at the edges of the moon, and the best and clearest red 

 from the moon to the bottom-colour. 



1^ — WiNO .... This is divided into four parts : — 1st, Bow. Best and brightest green-black, and best 



and clearest red. — 2nd, Bars. To have two distinct bars, composed of the largest, 

 clearest, brightest, and best green-black moons, and the clearest and best red from 

 the moon to the bottom-colour. —3rd, Flight. The clearest and best red [quill of 

 the feather to be same colour as the web. N. M.].— 4th, The Lacing, or top of the 

 wing, above the flight (now called "stepping" of the wing. Largest, clearest, 

 brightest, and best green-black spots on the end of the feathers, and the best and 

 clearest red from the spot to the bottom-colour. 



8th. — Tail .... The brightest, darkest, and best green-black. To be full-feathered. 



9th. — Legs .... Best and clearest blue, 

 loth. — General Appearance The best-feathered hen. 



