April 11, 186S. ] 



JOUKNAL OF HOfiTICTJLTUKE AND COTTAGE GAEDEITEE. 



•297 



approaching to broodiness, to which the mildness of the last 

 week may have also contributed. 



In the Oame fowls it was especially so. Perhaps fewer 

 entries of Brovm Keds never occurred in proportion to the 

 other varieties cf Game than at Wigton. Mr. Fletcher, of 

 Stoneclough, near Manchester, however, exhibited a grand 

 old cock of that colour that secured for its owner a silver 

 cup, as an extra prize offered "' for the best Game Cock." 

 The Game cockerel that took the other cup belonged to a 

 resident of 'Wigton, Mr. J. Eobinson, of West Street. He is 

 a good and remarkably true-feathered Black Eed, but some- 

 what smaller than could be wished. It is remarkable that 

 in a large class of Game Bantams, not even a single pen of 

 Brown Keds was to be met with. There were, however, 

 some good Greys and a very nice pair of Red Pile Bantams 

 exhibited. The Golden-spangled were the best variety of 

 the Hamburiihs, and the Black Polish were excellent. In 

 Sebright Bantams the show was a failure ; and it seems 

 probable that this somewhat delicate variety does not thrive 

 well so far north; at least, it is rare, indeed, that a good pen 

 is exhibited thereabouts. The prize Spanish and the Grey 

 Darlings that took position on the prize list were very 

 perfect, but the remainder of the birds in these classes were 

 indifferent. 



Some Guinea Fowls exhibited in the class for "Any other 



variety of poultry " were good, but as discontented and 



restless as these birds are ever prone to be when subjected to 



even the slightest constraint. 



The Aylesbury breed of Ducks do not show to advantage 



from the district around Wigton, the bDls, however pure 



at the outset, soon attaining a yellow hue in the neigh- 



boiu-hood. It is worth bearing in mind that on some waters 



nothing wiU preserve the delicate character of the bills, 



however great the pains and trouble taken to do so. The 



Eouen Ducks were, however, far better than are usually 



met with, being both a numerous and generally good class 



throughout. A singularity of the show at Wigto'n is the offer 



of a special set of prizes for " Wild Ducks," or rather semi- 

 domesticated Wild Ducts, they seeming to be a much valued 



breed among many of the neighbouring gentry. Even when 



thus kept their excellence for the table is incontestable. The -^ , , ■ 



class for Ducks of "Any other varietv," produced a good I (Cross-bred;; R. Tare, 



display, the first prize being secured by a pen of SheU Ducks, | ^^''^l"^". Egremont (8r 



Second, 

 Aapatria 



DoRKixo.— First* J. Gunson, Whitehavea. Second and Commended, 

 G. HigtiSelfl, Bteocogo Hou?e. 



CocHiN-CmNA (Any variety).— First and Second, Miaa AgUonby, Gras* 

 mere. 



Ha-mbcbohs (GoIden-spant»led). — Fiist, J. Wilson, Whitehaven. Second, 

 R. Tate, LeedH. Highly Commended, A. K. Wood, Kendal. Commended, 

 J. Dixon, Wigton; J, Wilson. 



Hamburohs (Stlvei'-spangled).— First. A, K. Wood, Kendal. Second, 

 R. Tdie Leeds. Commende'l, — Xoble, Kendal. 



Hamburohs (Gold and Sitver-pencUle<i). — First, J. Harris, Wigten. 

 Second, — Burrovr, Longtown. Commended, J. llnure, Witjton. 



.A,NT OTHER Variett.— First, J- R, Jesdop, Hull (Black PoH-^b). 

 R. Tate, LeeOs (Black Hamburghs). Commeaded, T. T. Selby, 

 (Guinea Fowls . 



Gamk Ba.stams (Black-breas'ed and other Reds).— First, M. Redhead, 

 Kendal. Second, Miss Aglionby. Grasmere. Highly Commended, J. Wilson, 

 Longtown; J. N. Horig'aon, Wigton. 



Game Bajitajis (Any other cjlour).— First and Second, Miss Aglionby, 

 Gra'^mere, 



Bantams (Any other variety).— Second, J. Wallas, Highmoor. First 

 withheld. 



Ducks (Aylesbnry).— First, W. Barnes, Wigton. Second, J. Dixon, 

 Wigton. 



Upces (Rouen). — Fii-st. G. Hetherin^ton, Curthwaite Sration. Second, 

 R. Jones, Whitehaven. Highly Commended. R. Tate, Leeds. 



Ducks (Common Wildj.— First, A. Robinson, Carlisle. Second, T. Man- 

 duel!, Aibhead. 



Ducks (Any other variety).- First, J. M. Arm'^trons, Aikhead (SheU 

 Duck^). Second. T. C. Harnson, Hxil . Highly Commeaded, T. T. Selby. 

 Pigeons.— Carriers.— First, H. Yardley, Birminsrham. Second, J, C. 

 Taylor, Middlesborough. Tumft/ers.— First, R. Pickering. Carlisle. Second, 

 H. Tardley, birmingham. Folders.— Prize, E- E. M. Rayds, Ashby-de-ls- 

 Zoucb. Fajttnih. — First, H. Yardley. Birmingham. Second, T. Manduell, 

 .'Aikhead. Jncobins. — Fir.-^t, R. Pickering, Cai lisle. Second, — Taylor, 

 iliddle^borough. Highly Commendert, W. Hastwell, Kendal. I^^uus — 

 First, H. Yardley, Birmingham. Serond. J. R. Jessop, Hull. Commended, 

 R. Thompson, Kendal. Barbs.— Viv^r^ H Yardley, Birminghim. Second, 

 — Taylor, Middlesborough. Tu7-bits. — First, R. Thompson. Second, 

 R. Pickering. Oiols. — Prize, H. Ya^-dley. Trumpeters. — Virst, W. 

 Hastwell. Second, E. E. M. Jones. Any o her variety. — First, H Yardley, 

 Second, I. P. Cullen. Carlisle. Higlily Commended. R Pickering, Carlisle. 

 Best G.ime Cock (Extra Prize).— First, J. Fletcher, Manchester. Second, 

 W. Boyes, Beverley. Third. — Geldred, KendaL 



Best Game Cockerel (Extra Prize).— Fiist, T. Robinson, Wigton. 

 Second, J. Wailas, Highmoor Houss. Third. Jos. Brougb, Carliale. Highly 

 Commended, J. Barnes, VYigton; T. Robinson, ITlverston. 

 Bf.st Game Cock i County Pri7.p). — First ind Second, Jos. Brnugh, Carlisle. 

 Best Game Cockerel (Connty Prize). — First, J. Wallas, Highmoor. 

 Second, Jos. Brough, Carlisle. Commended, J. Gaddes, Carlisle; P, 

 Hodgson, Penrith. 



Best Diss of O.ve Dozex Hbs' Eggs. — Prize, J. Wood, Sandwith, near 



Whitehuven (Cross-bred, Spanish and Ganae). Highly Commended, Misa 



Watson, Daleside (Black Spanish); J. Cilvert. Warwick Bridge (Black 



^pani-h: ; E. Fearon, Whitehaven (Black Spanish); — Stronj::, Drumleanin? 



Leeds (Cochin and Spanish). Commended, J, 



Brown Red G.ime) ; R. Tate (Cochin and Spanish). 



or, as commonly known on some coasts, the " tfaint (jeorge's 

 Ducks," belonging to Mr. T. M. Ai-mstrong, of Aikhead, and 

 they were shown in absolutely faultless condition, noi* can 

 we call to mind a single instance In which the excrescence at 

 the base of the upper mandible of the bill was nearly so 

 well developed as in the drake now under notice. Although 

 we have ourselves kept many of them for years past, so 

 perfect an attainment of this intensely rich coral hue at 

 springtiine has not taken place ; in fact, to many visitors at 

 vvigton it appeared so thoroughly unnatural as to cause 

 doubts of fair play. This we know, however, that in the 

 wild adult male it invai-iably takes place at this season, but 

 m the domesticated bird of this species such an occurrence 

 IS very rare. This beautiful specimen was hatched in con- 

 finement, is perfectly tame, and is some four or iive years 

 old. In this class were some crossbreds between the Grey 

 Call Buck and the White Call Duck, spotted and very 

 uncommon, and a good pen of birds bred between the com- 

 mon wild Duck and the Grey Calls were also very interestino-, 

 a^d would be very useful for decoys. 



A considerable falling-off in the entries for Tigeons this 

 year may doubtless be attributed to the extraordinary com- 

 petition at Wigton last year among the Pigeons, the classes 

 throughout being now by far less filled. The competition 

 was nevertheless, though so limited, not at all without a 

 struggle; for superiority the Carriers, Xuns, Spots, Powters, 

 Txirbits, and Barbs were the most conspicuous. 



o **^^ tI^'**^'^''^'^-''*'^*^ ^^^ ^'^^^ Redsl.— First. John Brough, C:ar;isle 

 second, D. Tait, Grasmere. Commended, J. Harris, Wigton. 



bJ'"^ i^'^'^ ^""^ Pile). -First, Jos. Brough. CarUsle. Second, John 

 Brough, Carlisle, 



Game (Duckwing and other Greys. Blacks, and Bluest— First. Mes,<(r3. 

 ^tonsMabon, Jedburgh. Second, Jos. Brough, Carlisle. Commended 

 John Broogb, CarU>le. 



Edward Hewitt, Esq., of Eden Cottage, Sparkbroofc, near 

 Birmingham, officiated as Judge. 



oo?'^/ ?,^''-i;"^ ('^^y colour). -First. W. D. Dickson, Thomhill, Sdotlaud, 

 P.^ ■ ^•/f% ^^'"^^- ^'-^^y Commended, M. H. Brisco, — 

 Commended, J. N. Hodgson, Wigton. 



Spakish.— First and Second, J. Wilson, Whitehayea 

 HaFBson, Kendal; E. Fearon, Whitehaven. 



Wigton. 

 Commended, J. 



ECCE:NrTEICITIES IIS" PIGEONS. 



In reply to " Wiltshike Eectoe," I do not think his hen 

 Powter will be injured by laying four eggs. It seems to me 

 a curious case, and I trust lie will be cai-eful to notice if she 

 lays four eggs next time. I once before heard of a hen. 

 Pigeon that laid four eggs, but in that case the evidence 

 was not satisfactory to me. I would advise no hempseed to 

 be given to her, but she may have old tares or barley with 

 her Indian corn, and she ought to be well supplied with old 

 mortar broken up. I once found two young Pigeons dead 

 in one egg. 



How curious are some of the actions of Pigeons ! Some 

 cocks are so attentive to their hens that they cannot spare 

 time to fetch a single stick for the nest ; but I have a Eed 

 House Tumbler cock so indefatigable in building that he is 

 continually at it, and has carried a small truss of straw into 

 his pen. 



Some Pigeons seem careless of feeding their own young 

 ones, whereas I have a Blue-bearded cock Tumbler whose 

 hen was lately lost in a high flight, who has adopted a couple 

 of young ones, which he nurses with great care, and defends 

 with much more zeal than ever he did liis own castle. 



I have a White Air Tumbler, hatched last year, which toot 

 it into her head to feed some young ones that laid on the 

 floor by her while she herself was being fed — and this is not 

 the first case I have heard of one young one feeding another. 

 I had last year a young Black House Tumbler which, when he 

 first began to be matchable, showed like a hen, paired with 

 an odd cock, and remained as a hen nntil he tried to be 

 master, when his old mate had to beat him ofi'. This year 

 I have a small Black Mottled Air Tumbler which I thought 

 was a hen, so I put it up with an old Black Mottled Air 



