Frauds in Exhibiting Hamburghs. 389 



We may remark that the purest strains of Hamburghs will occasionally produce birds with 

 single combs, particularly if the smallest and best combs be bred from. This is evidently a case of 

 reversion to the type of some ancient progenitor of the family, and is no proof whatever of a cross 

 in the strain. Such birds will generally breed the proper type of comb ; but, for obvious reasons, 

 they should not be bred from, or the tendency will of course increase. 



JUDGING HAMBURGHS. — The points to which a judge has to give attention in judging 

 Hamburghs may be ranged into four great divisions, viz., i, Marking ; 2, Combs ; 3, Ear-lobes ; 

 4, Symmetry. All of these are important; and symmetry in particular should by no means be 

 overlooked, since it is one of the chief beauties of all the Hamburgh breeds. Tastes differ, and we 

 know many who consider the Game the type of beauty as regards form ; but for our own part we 

 must admit that a perfectly-shaped Hamburgh cock, particularly of the Pencilled breeds, is to our 

 own eye far superior — indeed, a very ideal of beautiful contour. Of the other three divisions, all are 

 more or less frequently made the subjects of deceptive practices, and in no breed does " trimming" 

 require such lynx-eyed vigilance on the part of the judge. Ear-lobes are painted white ; combs are 

 cut and otherwise maltreated ; false tails are fastened in ; and in the case of the Spangled breeds we 

 have seen a pretty good basketful of feathers abstracted from one pen of prize birds, which were 

 too heavily spangled, and needed " thinning-out " in order to show sufficient of the ground-colour 

 between. This last fraud is very difficult of detection indeed, and, in fact, almost impossible of 

 absolute proof; and even the fastening in of false sickles cannot be detected in every case without 

 manipulation such as a judge hardly feels justified in using, for fear of injuring the plumage of a 

 really honest fowl. The Silver-pencilled cocks are most frequently subject to this latter fraud, a 

 perfectly edged tail being by no means easy to produce, and not unfrequently, when it is, combined 

 with a bad comb, with somewhat too dark body-colour, or other faults. When, therefore, an 

 unusually fine pair of sickles are produced, whether on a good bird or a bad one, they are, by 

 unscrupulous exhibitors, frequently transferred or preserved — as the case may be—" for other uses." 

 The fraud is generally detected in the end, either by the fastening " coming loose," or a little want 

 of freshness, or some other cause arousing the suspicion of the judge ; but we have known a man 

 boast when thus discovered that the false tail " had done pretty well after all, for he had won with 

 it eleven times." A very dark, glossy, sharply-edged tail, if found on a cock with very slight bars 

 and little under-colour, or perhaps with no bars at all, should always excite suspicion ; and this is 

 perhaps the only hint which can be given ; though if the sickles look dull and dead in colour while 

 the rest of the plumage is brilliant and glossy, attentive curiosity may also be occasionally rewarded 

 by unexpected discoveries. 



It is, however, in the combs that Hamburghs are subjected to the most extensive manipulation, 

 and some of the practices which have actually been detected are of the most cruel nature. In one 

 notorious case the judges took from a comb two large needles, which had been inserted longitudinally 

 to keep it from falling over. These needles were so rusted in that they were removed with 

 difficulty, and were only detected by the end of one protruding, so that the duration of the torture 

 inflicted on the unfortunate bird cannot be known. Pins, temporarily inserted, have been found in 

 plenty. A very common fault is a hollow or depression in the centre of the comb ; and this has been 

 known to be treated by cutting a wedge-shaped piece out of the middle, and stitching the outside 

 portions tightly up together till joined and healed. Stitches put in for one purpose or other are 

 often found, and, we regret to add, are employed far oftener than found, being withdrawn just 

 before sending the bird in — indeed, our impression is that it is to simple forgetfulness of this 

 necessary precaution discovery is often due. Minor irregularities are simply shaved off, and we 



