December 7, 1871. 3 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



453 



the Brahmas and these breeds were confined to the Various 

 class. 



SpaJiish were good in quality, but not numerous. They do 

 not make tbe progress they did years ago. 



Hamhurghs are up and doing, but in the Pencilled varieties 

 the Golden still show better than the Silver. There were some 

 unusually good Golden-Bpangled. 



Polish fowls are decidedly looking op. We have not for a 

 long time seen as many good Golden and Silver as at this Show. 



It is unneoesaary to make any mention of the Game. They 

 formed magnificent classes. Some birds among them would 

 by their weight have astonished the cockers of the last century. 

 The Duckwings are still the weakest class. 



Sebright Bantams will soon be things of tbe past. They 

 brought but seven entries in two classes. The Black were 

 excellent and the "White good. The other varieties brought 

 Cochins, Friesland, and Japanese. The Cochins were not so 

 good as we have seen. 



The Game Bantams were in themselves a show, and we 

 thought a Duckwing cock one of the best birds we ever saw. 



Ducks and Geese, with the exception of one class, were a 

 continued but well-deserved triumph for Mr. Fowler. The 

 same may almost be said of Mr. Lythall in Turhcys, 



PIGEONS [Concluded from page ^1S.) 



Bunts. — Seven entries — viz., two pairs of Bines and five of Silvers. 

 The winning pair were Blues of such size that they had scarcely room 

 to tarn in the pens. Their balky forms likewise told well on the scales, 

 the weight being ^ lbs. 6 ozs. The cock bird had unfortunately lost 

 an eye, which loss with some Judges would have been a fatal objection, 

 but the pair were worthy of their position. There were other f^ood 

 birds, but diminutive in comparison to the prizewinners. 



Jacobins. — There were twenty-four pens of average merit ; two were 

 soon selected for severe criticism — namely, a handsome pair of Reds and 

 a good pair of Yellows. The latter were chosen for the highest honours, 

 though in our opinion Mr. Fulton's Reds were far preferable ; they 

 were perfect with the exception of a little blemish in the thigh of one 

 bird. They were small, good in head, mane, and chain, sound in 

 colour, compact in form, and in good condition. Mr. Thompson's 

 Yellows, though very good, were larger, the cock foul in flight, and 

 both birds somewhat out of condition ; but in justice to the Judges we 

 may state that there was a doubt as to the sex of the Reds, and this 

 uncertainty might have influenced their awards. In the class for any 

 other colour only seven pens were entered. The prize list was headed 

 with a handsome pair of "Whites of more than ordinary merit, good in 

 the shape of the head and in general outline, clear white eye, hood 

 and chain good. They were pure white, and did credit to the loft from 

 which they came. 



FantaUs (White). — There were twenCy-four pairs. It is proverbial 

 that the Fantail classes are diffii;ult to judge, for the worst pair in a 

 class are often seen to the best advantage, whilst better pairs are 

 crouching in corners of their pens. A very good pair was first. Se- 

 cond came a capital pair of birds, good in tail, make, and carriage. 

 The hen showed to a disadvantage, as she is not quite through her 

 moult, and when judged was bleeding from one of her half-developed 

 tail feathers. A well-matched, unusually good pair came third. They 

 had a full-feathered and expansive tail and carried it well, but were 

 much soiled in appearance, otherwise they would doubtless have had 

 a better place. Several other pens of good birds were shown, and 

 among them a cock bird in a pen belonging to Mr. Yardley was notice- 

 able as being of extraordinary merit. He had an immense tail, full- 

 feathered, and well spread out into an almost circular form ; he 

 was otherwise good, but unfortunately was mated to a hen of the 

 second order of Fans, so that pair were passed. The whole class was 

 good. 



FantaUs (Any other colour). — Eight pens were exhibited — six pens 

 of Blues and two of Blacks. Au excellent pair of Blues were first. 

 They were of a good pure colour, with regular and well-defined bars, 

 good in tail and carriage, and without doubt the best pair shown. 

 The same exhibitor also took the second prize with another pair of 

 Blues, also good in colour and general characteristics, but they were 

 ill-matched in eye, the hen having pearl and the cock red eyes. 



Trumpeters (Mottled) were represented by sis entries of capital 

 Trumpeters, if not all proper Mottles. The first prize was awarded 

 for a first-class pair of birds, good in feather, large, full in rose and 

 well-feathered in leg. These birds well merited their position. The 

 second prize was tal^en by a first-rate pair of birds, though scarcely 

 entitled to be classed as Mottles. They were a perfect match, uniform 

 black with mottled or sprinkled heads, good in every particular save 

 their doubtfal title as Mottles. 



Jrumpeters (Any other colour). — There were only three entries, but 

 the quality of two pens amply compensated for the deficiency in num- 

 bers. Fiist came a wonderful pair of Whites ; second as wonderful 

 a pair of Blacks. These two pairs were perfection, and one cannot 

 help wondering at the marked improvement made of late years in the 

 entries of this very attractive and prolific breed of Pigeons. 



Owls (Foreign). — The first prize went to a splendid pair of birds, the 



second to a grand pair of Blues, pure and rich in colour, each pen remark- 

 able (for coloured specimens) in head properties, and having, combineij 

 with other merits, the apparent vigour and vivacity of the larger kind- 

 Mr. Fulton had an excellent pair of Whites, very short in head, ver^? 

 small in body, and very good in general characteristics. An unusually 

 good pair of Blacks was exhibited by Mr. Joshua Fielding, jun. They 

 possessed all the chief and essential features of the breed, but, as with 

 most Blacks, they were of a bluish tinge. The jet black has yet to- 

 be obtained. The specimens were excellent. 



Olds (English) — An admirable pair of Whites, that have worv 

 frequently, were first ; though the cock bird does not show so well as- 

 formerly, yet that beautiful round head is still unchanged in either 

 bird, but tbe cere around his eye has acquired a reddish tinge which 

 is objectionable. There were ten entries in this class. 



Nuns. — There were eighteen entries. All the prize birds were excel- 

 lent, through to our mind a still more excellent pair belonging to Mr. 

 E. T. Dew was pa=!sed over, we suppose, from the fact of being in Bt 

 dark cornouof the Show. The whole o'ass was good. Three p.ira of 

 Yellows were shown, none of which found favour. Their tails were 

 all of a faded washed-out colour. 



Turhits (Red or Yellov). — la this class there was a good muster of 

 birds (eighteen entries) ; though many of them seemed sadly out of 

 condition, the quality of the birds was excellent. The first prize 

 went to a handsome pair of Reds, the second to a pair of brilliant- 

 coloured Yellows ; in fact, rich and pure of colour, small and compact 

 in form, but from having shell-crowns instead of peaks, they were 

 destined for the second place. Mr. Horner showed a capital pair of 

 Reds, but the hen, apparently about to lay, was quite out of form, 

 and consequently showed to a disadvantage. Mr. F. Waitt also senU 

 a first-class pair of Reds, but in rather a deplorable condition. 

 Though they were very much soil ed the colour was rich, and the line of 

 marking distinct. Mr. 0. E. Cresswell showed a very nice pair of 

 Reds. The White class was good considering the disastrous seasori 

 through which old birds have passed, and in which young ones havet 

 been reared. - 



Turhits (Any other colour). — Fifteen entries, among which wer& 

 some splendid birds, the most conspicuous being the Blues that won 

 the first prize — a really handsome pair, well matched, well frilled^ 

 good shape, good peak ; sound, clear, and uniform colour, and io 

 perfect health. The second prize went to a very pretty, neat, ami 

 compact pair of Silvers, well frilled and a good match. F. H. Paget^ 

 Esq., showed an excellent pair of Silvers. The class was good. 



Dragoons (Blue). — This class was a large one, and owing to th& 

 diversity of opinion upon them, a difficult one to jndge. The awards- 

 were not altogether in accord with our views. The first prize an^ 

 silver cup went to a splendid, well-matched, and graceful pair of birdS;^ 

 which have been closely scrutinised many times and have always com& 

 off victorious. The same exhibitor took the second prize with a very 

 handsome pair. The birds, ranged in a double tier, were either too* 

 high or too low to be properly seen. 



Dragoons (Red or Yellow). — Thirteen entries. The first and second 

 prizes were taken with two good pairs of Yellows. All the birds wer& 

 too coarse and Carrier-like to be thoroughly good Dragoons. 



Dragoons (Silver). — This class was unusually strong, Silvers being 

 scarce and difficult to breed. There were, however, twelve pens of birds ^ 

 most of which were very good, though too heavily waited to be satis- 

 factory. The first-prize birds were good, though too heavy and coarsen 

 to be proper Dragoons. The same remark applies to the second-piiz& 

 pen. These two pens were seen to advantage from their extra good 

 condition. The bars of the second-prize pair are of too black a tint 

 for Silvers. Mr. H. Allsop exhibited six good pairs, one of which 

 should have been upon the prize list. 



Dragoons (Any other colour). — Of these there were thirteen entries. 

 Most of the birds were good, but many were out of plume and ratheir 

 soiled. 



Magpies. — Some excellent birds were shown. There were five pairs 

 of Yellows, three of Blacks, and one of Reds. 



Antwerps (Silver Dun). — This was a very large and excellent clasS;^ 

 thirty -three pens appearing for competition. The fancy for this- 

 breed is extending every year, as the merits and value of the breed 

 are more generally known. The first prize was taken by a very good 

 pair of birds. 



Antwerps (Blue). — There were seventeen entries, and the whole of 

 the birds were good. 



Antwerps (Red Chequered). — This was an excellent collection of 

 thirteen entries. The first prize and silver cup went to a fine pair. 



Antwerps (Blue Chequered). — There were twelve entries, all of goocS 

 birds. The first prize went to a handsomely chequered and well- 

 developed pair. The second prize was awarded to the same exhibitor 

 for a pair infinitely superior in quality to that which won the first 

 prize. 



Archangels. — Of these there was a. fair display. 



Swallows. — Twelve pens of this kind formed the class, in which 

 there were many very good birds. 



An7j other otJier New or Distin ct Variety. — In this splendid class of 

 various sorts it is usual to expect severe competition. This year there 

 were thirty entries of beautiful p ens of Pigeons. The first prize and 

 silver cup were taken by an e xquisite pair of delicately pencilled 

 Brunettes, from a consignment of foreign Pigeons recently imported, 

 i A pair of handsome Ice Pigeons also took a first prize. A second pri^e 



