December 21, 187(5. 1 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



530 



feet-feathering. The second was from the same yard, and quite 

 as clear in ground colour, very equally pencilled, the pencilling 

 a little broader than the first, and to all appeaiance a younger 

 bird. The third was also well pencilled, but not quite so clear 

 in ground colour. Fourth a little tco light in front. Several 

 other well-pencilled pulieta were exhibited in this class, but in 

 many the ground colour was too brown. The class as a whole 

 was much better than the cockerels. Light Brahma cocks had 

 twenty-two entries. The first and £10 cup for the best Light 

 Brahma in the Show went to Mr. Horsfali's grand Palace and 

 Bristol winner; he is a massive bird and won eaEily. The 

 second is alBo a good-coloured bird ; the third and fourth are 

 also good. The class was far better than the cockerels. Light 

 Brahma cockerels was a large class of fifty-one entries. The 

 first a large bird, good in colour and well feathered ; he has all 

 the appearance of making a first-rate old bird. Second has won 

 at several shows, and is a grand bird, but here had a curiously 

 twisted hackle. Third a large fairly coloured bird and well 

 feathered, but he has got his hackles quite if not worse than the 

 second, apparently with being over-exhibited. Fourth a fine 

 bird, but not good enough in colour. Fifth a very pretty bird 

 in all respects, but rather small. Light Brahma hens were a 

 splendid class of thirty-two entries. The first, second, and 

 third were very equal and first-rate in quality; the fourth a 

 large beautiful-coloured bird, but rather too leggy. The Light 

 Brahma pullets were a beautiful class of fifty-seven entries. 

 The first had a beautifully marked hackle, very deep yellow 

 legs well feathered ; she was in grand condition. Second was 

 also a great beauty, good in shape, well-marked hackle, and 

 clear in white. The third was a large bird, very pure in white, 

 and well feathered. Fourth very pure in white, with good well- 

 feathered legs and feet, well marked in neck ; she appears young 

 and likely to make a good bird. Many other birds were noticed 

 in this class, which was a very good one. The Brahma Selling 

 class for cocks were only a medium lot ; the first were Dark, 

 second Light, and third Dark. The Selling class for hens was 

 much better than the cocks, and some cheap bargains were 

 held out here ; no doubt the prize birds would run up at the 

 auction. . 



Dobkings. — The falling-off in Coloured Dorkings is astonish- 

 ing ; we know of five eminent breeders possessed of splendid 

 chickens, who contented themselves with the laurels of Oxford, 

 the Crystal Palace, and Bristol. The first two cocks were ahead 

 of the reBt in size, and good Dorkings in shape ; third a well- 

 ghsped bird with a poor small comb and bow legs. The cockerels 

 numbered twenty-six ; we remember 75 at Birmingham! they 

 were a poor lot; certainly but one, if one, would have been in 

 the Palace liBt. First a long-legged bird, fair all rouud, dark in 

 colour; second a smaller and lighter bird with suspicious marks 

 as if he had had sprigs on his comb ; third much better in shape, 

 but a bad Silver-Grey in colour; fourth a dark bird, very brown 

 on wing, his oomb ugly and tilted forwards ; fifth too long on leg 

 and chicken-like, but much the best of the prize birds. We 

 should certainly have put Mr. Walker's commended bird first 

 or nowhere; he looked very antique for a bird of the year. Mr. 

 Baker's highly commended bird was a very fair one with a bad 

 comb. Hens were a better class ; first, a splendid bird a little 

 long on leg; second, a long bird with a rich brown breast, a 

 little dark in feet; third, a good well-shaped bird. 447 (MrB. 

 Arkwright), good in form and white in feet, nearly black in 

 colour. Pullets were poor ; first a bird very like her owner's 

 second-prize heD, sooty in feet; second, square and good, with 

 a most matronly look; third a fair-size bird, good in shape and 

 colour, and a veritable pullet. We should have put her first. 

 463 (Dr. Snell) seemed ill. The arrangement of baskets is such 

 (they are packed closely in a subterranean limbo) that it is im- 

 possible to get one out, and so sick birds cannot be sent home. 



Silver- Greys. — The only really good bird in the cock class 

 was Mr. Cresswell's Bristol cup-winner. He was put into a 

 broken pen, fought all night with his neighbour, and was in a 

 sorry plight when the Judge came round. The same thing 

 happened to one of Mr. Matthew's Game cocks. It is positively 

 shameful that an entrance fee of 8s. cannot command the use of 

 a pen such as could be bought for 5s. The first-prize cock was 

 a very poor bird, with no distinct fifth claw on one foot ; second 

 fair in shape, but orange- coloured on the wing. Cockerels were 

 much better. Ten out of the twenty shown were claimed on 

 the first day, among them Mr. Cresswell's unnoticed bird for 

 fifteen guineas. First a fine upstanding bird, with good comb 

 and feet, a little yellow in hackle, and spurs inclined backwards ; 

 second good in comb, but very dark in feet ; third a pretty smart 

 little bird, which found a purchaser at the auction ; 485 (Bur- 

 nell) a grand bird, but his comb is going over ; 488 (Cunningham) 

 a pretty bird. Hens were few; first a beautiful bird, the Palace 

 cup-winner ; second brown and indifferent. We much preferred 

 the Bristol winner. The first pullet was a pretty little bird, 

 which must have won from her bright condition ; her feet are 

 very dark. Second too narrow, but exquisite in colour; 500 (Mrs. 

 Colvile) a nice bird, with a bad toe ; 504 (Burnell) large, but not 

 looking her best. 



Whites are always good classes here, from the Show being the 

 only one where chickens and adults both have classes. The 

 first cock was well ahead ; he has a large and good comb, but 

 swollen feet. Second a fair bird all round ; we Bhould have put 

 Mr. BoisBier's highly-commended bird in his place. Lord 

 Sudeley was fortunate in getting a highly commended for a 

 bird with terrible feet. The oup cockerel is certainly an im- 

 mense and missive bird, but rather sunburnt. We almost prefer 

 Mrs. Hayne's second-prize bird, the Palace winner. In the 

 class for hens Mr. Cresswell's Palace cup bird was in our opinion 

 much the best, though the cup hen is a square fine Dorking ; 

 second was very poor and a mistake. The pullet class contained 

 several fine birds. The first bird was very pretty and good in 

 comb; second good in shape but ytllow. We thought Mrs. 

 Hayne's as good as any. The Selling classes were a more 

 rubbishy lot than usual. 



Cochins were throughout good classes. As we have said, we 

 attribute this to the hardineBS of the breed, and the consequent 

 confidence with which their owners hazard the dangers of Bir- 

 mingham. 



The first Buff cock was a fine upstanding bird, Bhort on leg, 

 very bright and even in colour, with good though rather stiff 

 leg-feathering. Second longer in leg and lighter in colour. He 

 wi»s shaky on legs and down in tail, and we did not like the 

 award. Third as good as any ; a little white on tail. Fourth a 

 very nice bird with buff tail; not quite so uniform in colour as 

 some, but capital in shape. We must say that in spite of his 

 not looking very bright we should have put Mr. Burneli's grand 

 old highly-commended bird high in the list. Cockerels were a 

 fine class. First Mrs. Tindal's beautiful bird, not looking at all 

 as he did at the Palace; his comb went over terribly with the 

 warmth of the Show. Second a well-shaped bird, inclined to 

 canary colour. In most ways he took our fancy much, though 

 far too pale on the back. Third not large, but a very nioe bird ; 

 fourth large, rather dark ; fifth disfigured by white earlobes and 

 a black tail. In hens Mr. Procter's splendid bird was first-and- 

 cup. She is of a very even pale buff throughout. Second a fine 

 hen all round ; not equal to the first in size. Her colour is 

 medium, her comb too high. Third large, fine in shape, and 

 feathering; a little ticked in neck hackle. Fourth we believe 

 the first Palace bird. Her comb is very shaky and her legs 

 long, and we did not think the award a good one. Beyond the 

 prize birds there were several nice hens. 649 (Fowler) bad in 

 comb, but very good in colour ; 645 (Darby) good all round ; 

 661 (Tomlinson) small and good, in colour ; 663 (Ryland) very 

 fair. The class was a very strong one. The first pullet was 

 good in size with fine thigh fluff; she might have a little more 

 shank-feathering; her colour is of medium darkness. Second a 

 good pullet throughout ; a little long in back. Third Bmaller 

 but shorter in back; her shape fair, her colour a little dead. 

 Fourth small, but bright in colour. Fifth large and well shaped, 

 with bright neck hackle, but back colour not very sound. We 

 could not imagine why a beautiful pullet of Lady Gwydyr's (669) 

 was not among the winners. 677 (TomlinBon) a fine pullet, a 

 little high on leg and with twisted hackle ; 683 (Gwynn) bright 

 in colour with hardly any leg-feathering; 684 (Procter) worthy 

 of notice; 687 (Burnell) good. 



Partridge. — Cocks were a splendid class, the cup bird was in 

 colour far ahead of all the rest ; his shape and comb are capital, his 

 foot-feathering a little broken. When we saw him on the second 

 day of the Show he seemed suffering much from a terrible draught 

 which rushes in from the great hall into the heated annex. 

 Second, as well as the cup bird, short-legged, a broad and 

 massive bird, darker in hackle than the first ; his foot-feathering 

 is singularly fine for a bird not hocked. Third a taller bird than 

 the other two winners, very dark in neck-marking; 701 (Tudman), 

 capital in shape but a little white in tail, and a little tinged in 

 fluff; 707 (Tomlinson), wonderful in breadth. The cockerels were 

 not so even a class; the winners being very good, but several 

 very poor birds in the class. First a marvellous bird in size, h& 

 would quite compete with the adult cocks ; his comb is high and 

 weak, and may, we would fear, go over. Second, another very 

 fine bird, better in comb and running the first hard. Third not- 

 so large ; a darker bird in hackle, with good black fluff but scanty 

 leg-feathering. Hens. — The cup went to a beautifully pencilled 

 ben, fair in size. Second quite as good in shape, butnot in con- 

 dition and marking. Third, small and well shaped, with breast 

 prettily marked. The class was not a remarkable one. The 

 first pullet was marvellous in marking, like a very well pencilled 

 Dark Brahma; her comb is too high and her shape only fair. 

 Second a grand pullet in size and shape, but deficient in mark- 

 ing ; she was next to the cup hen, and certainly looked as large. 

 Mr. Burneli's very highly commended pullet was prettily marked. 

 Whites were good classes all round. The cup cock was a mag- 

 nificent bird, his feathering very heavy. His back does not rise 

 towards the tail quite to our fancy. He is the bird that was so 

 unaccountably left out of the Crystal Palace list. Second long 

 on leg and stilty. Third much smaller, but well shaped and 

 well leathered, a very pretty cock. We liked Mrs. Tindal'fl 

 bird ; Mr. Boissier's too, the Palace cup bird, we thought worthy 



