Janmvy 12, 1871. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTIOULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



39 



other exhibitors of the fancy kinds have experienced the same.— Best Collection or Foreign or British Birds. — 1, W. Bailey. 2, T. 



jAiiES Boyle, jtj^., Blackhurti. 



THIRSK CANARY AND FOREIGN BIRD SHOW. 



Thirsk does everything properly; so it advertised, and its Show was 

 a great success. It was nnfortnnate that there were, I think, no less 

 than fonr shows fixed for the last week in the old year. It was a 

 mistake ; bnt, once committed to the responsibiiitiea of n show, it is 

 difficult to withdraw. Three out of the four I knew something of, and 

 wrote to the secretaries, advising them of the possibility of a collision, 

 and suggesting means to make each subservient to the other, and the 

 whole a success. Darlington, the first in the week, collapsed, which I 

 am Borry for, as under careful management it should have pulled 

 through. Of Stokesley, the last show of the week, I do not know the 

 result, not having seen any return, but I trust the exertions of its com- 

 mittee were not in vain. There are, however, wheels within wheels, 

 and motive powers in the machinery of a show, which do not always 

 appear on the surface, and with reference to this, committees will find 

 that independent action will tell best in the long run ; and any town 

 ■which can hold its show only by consent of its neighbour, bases its 

 claims to public support on a sandy foundation, and should carefully 

 study the fahlo of " the old man and his ass." 



I found Thirsk in the same place, and the yellow 'bus with the pair 

 of greys seemed as though it had been waiting in the snow since last 

 Christmas to carry us {for my wife and the black bag went to see the 

 Show) to the door of the "Black Lion," where the worthy host and 

 hostess gave us aright hearty Christmas welcome, doing all that genial 

 hospitality could do to remind us that Christmas comes only once a-year. 



As soon as I was thawed I went to the Show-room, to wish Mr. Bailey 

 the compliments of the season, and we sat chatting '* Canary lore " 

 over the fire till the small hours of the morning, when I left him try- 

 ing to find out the softest board in the floor for a bed, as no persuasion 

 could induce him to desert hia post as night watchman over the fires. 

 The result of his careful attention was apparent when I entered the 

 room to judge. Among three hundi-ed entries there was not a bird to 

 be found suffering from the inclement weather, and it is only giving 

 Mr. Bailey his due to say that a more careful, conscientious custodiaa 

 of birds it has never been my pleasure to meet. 



Of the Canaries I shall only say that they included the best sppci- 

 mena of the year. The Mules formed an excellent collection, Mr. 

 Ashton taking the principal honours in Jonque and Mealy Goldfinch ; 

 and Mr. Stansfield running first in the " Any other Variety " with hia 

 splendid Bullfinch and Goldfiach. The vara ari<; of this cluss was Mr. 

 Ashton's Bullfinch and Linnet Mule. As a hybrid it is unique, but is 

 not just now in good show condition. Mr. Kobinson's Brown Linnet 

 Mule in the same class I noticed in my notes on Darlington. It has 

 improved greatly. 



A most prominent feature in the Show was the splendid exhibition 

 of Foreign Birds, of which there was a large entry ; Mr. W. Bailey, of 

 Purfleet, Essex, making a great show, and carrying otf the greater part 

 of the prizes. Both the Secretary and his brother are great admirers 

 of the more gorgeous birds of warmer climes, and Mr. W. Bailej's 

 name wiU be familiar to all visitors to the Crystal Palace Annual 

 Show, where he has always been a successful exhibitor. I think that 

 at no distant date the readers of our Journal may expect to see a series 

 of articles from his pen on the different varieties of foreign birds, with 

 hints on their management. Such papers will be read with interest, 

 and will lead to an extension of our prize schedules in this direction. 

 — W. A. Blaestox. 



P.S. — I have said nothing about somebody subsiding gracefully into 

 the snow. I promised I would not, and I have kept my word. 



Belgian.— rcHoir, Clear or Ticked— 1^ J- M. Harrison, Belper. 1, Stevens 

 and Burten, Middlesbrough. 3, Withheld. Buff, Clear or Ticked.—! and 2, J. 

 Close, Derby. 3, J. M. Harrison, 



Norwich.— -JoTzgHtr.—l and 2, Moore & Wynne, Northampton. 3. R. Hawman, 

 MiddlesbrouKh. lie, W. Bailey, Eeses. Biiff.—l and 2, Moore &. Wynne. 3, R. 

 Hawman. Evenly-marked Jonque— 1, R. Hawman. 2 and vhc, Moore and 

 Wynne. S, E. Mills, Sunderland, c, H. N. Froabrook, Doncaeter. Evenly- 

 marked Buff.— I and 2, Moore & Wynne. 3, E. Mills, he, W. tS; C. Burnijitoii, 

 Middlesbrough, e. H. N. Frosbrook; J. Calvert, York. 



CiNNAuoK. -Jon(2U(\— 1 and 2, S. Tomes, Northampton. 8. Wells & Clarke, 

 Hatfield, Doncaater. c, E. tttainsfield, Bradford; Moore & Wynne. Buff— 

 1 and 3. Moore & WjTine. 2, S. Tomes, he, R. Hawman ; Moore & Wynne. 



Yorkshire.— 1, R. Hawman. 2, E. Mills. 3, A. Webster, Kirkstall. r/ic, Srevens 

 and Burton ; E. Stainefield ; J. Taylor, Middlesbrouffh. ftc, G. Horner, Thirsk ; 

 H- & W. Winter, GuiBboronffh. 



l,iZJLRi>.—Goliie}irSi)angled.—l, Stevens & Burton. 2, J. Taylor. 3, R. Haw- 

 man. he, E. M1II3 ; H. Ashton, Prestwich ; J. M. Harrison ; Stevens & Burton. 

 Silver-spau(!led.—l, n. Xahton. 2 and kc, Stevens & Burton. 3, J. M.Harrison. 

 c, R. Hawman. 



Chested (Any breed).— 1 and 2, Moore & Wynne. 3, H. N. Frosbrook. vJtc, R. 

 Hawman. he, T. Irons; W. Bailev. 



Goldfinch Mule.— C/ear or Marked Yellow.— 1 and 2, H. Ashton. 3. W. 

 Bailey. Clear or Marked Buff.—i, H, Ashton. 2, W. & C. Burniston. 3, H. and 

 W. Winter. 



Mm.E (Any other variety).— 1, E. Stainsfleld. 2 and vhc, H. Ashton. S, C. 

 Eobinaou, Gainsford. 



Green Canary.— 1, Stevens & Burton. 2, Moore & Wynne. 



GoLDFlNOH.— 1, J. M. Harrison. 2, J. Calvert. 



LiSNET (Brown).— 1, T. Bailey. 2, J. M. Harrison. 



Bullfinch.— 2, J. Calvert. 



British Song Bird {Any other variety).—!, A. Webster. 2, T. Bailey. 



Love Birds.- 1, "W. Bailey. 2, T. Bailey. 



Parakeets.- ^w-stra^mn.- 1, W. Bailey. 2, J. Calvert Any oth^r Vari-eti/.— 

 1, W. Bailey. 2, J. Nicholson. 



CocKdToos OR Macaws (Any variety). — 1, W. Bailey. 



Parrot —(?rc;/.—l, W. Bailey. 2, A. Milner, Thirak. Ann other Variety.— 

 1, W. Bailey. Any oth^r Variety,-l, T. Bailey. 2, W. Bailey. 



Bailey. 

 Judge. — Mr. W. A. Blatston, Sunderland. 



THE SCOTTISH COLUMBARIAN ASSOCIATIOX, 

 EDINBURGH. 



The Society. — Although the Society has been established bnt a 

 few mouths its debut may at once be recorded as a success, continuing 

 and in some respects even rivalling, the oft-repeated successes of tJio 

 Glasgow fanciers. At the outset its prospectus recalls the advancfd 

 and still advancing estimation in which Pigeon culture is now held. 

 The many artistic phases of this pursuit and the curious naturalistic- 

 phenomena it discloses have long been recognised in the middle-cl.iFS- 

 world ; but the charmed circle of fanciers is ever widening, and " right 

 honourables " may now be found therein aspiring to columbarian dis- 

 tinction — a sign of the times again attested in the acceptance by the 

 Earls of Haddington and Kosslyn of the Honorary Presidency of the 

 new Society- In association with these gentlemen follow Messrs.. 

 Huie and Ure as President and Vice-President ; two of our most ardent 

 fanciers, and who, by great personal exertion, have forwarded the new 

 nndertakiug, assisted by Mr. Robert Blair as Treasurer, and specially 

 aided by the unremitting and good-humoured labours of Mr. Joseph 

 Luis, the Society's Honorary Secretary. The members — principally 

 residents of Edinburgh — must not be left out of account, for to them is 

 due the merit of enabling the Association to appear in public furnishtd 

 with superior plant, and with a sufficiency of entries to secure the 

 treasury from embarrassment. 



The Show, announced as the first annual exhibition of the Asso- 

 ciation, was held in the Music Hall, George Street, a room of com- 

 manding proportions, elaborately decorated, thoroughly lighted, in 

 every sense commodious, and above all well-affected by tbe Edinbur;;h 

 public. The choice of head-quarters so suitable harmonises with tbe 

 refinement which should always influence our exhibition arrangements. 

 A liberal policy marked the classification ; the provision for young 

 j birds being too lavish, however, as an arrangement for repetition^ 

 ; although perhaps well advised for the special occasion. 465 entries 

 I were brought out by the schedule, comprising in all some 6*20 birds ; 

 and the arrangement of these in double rows, the contrast of the 

 varied plumage with the white drapery, the shapely form of the cages, 

 the liveliness of their occupants, the moTing groups of visitors, and 

 the hall itself — all contributed to a most pleasing ensemble. Viewed 

 from the orchestra or gallery, wheiice a comprehensive survey of 

 the whole scene could be taken, the effect was particularly striking, 

 especially eliciting the admiration of those who were making their fir^t 

 acquaintance with a Pigeon exhibition, and even the oldest fancieis 

 confessed that such a combination had rarely before been presented to 

 their notice. 



Without Pouters a show in Scotland would Bcarcely be acknowledger. 

 Pouters, therefore, as evsr, occupied by far the larger half of the pern-. 

 The very recent criticism of this variety in all its divisions leaves br.t 

 little of general advancement to chronicle. With but trifling modifi- 

 cation the remarks of a twelvemonth ago apply now ; and, indeed, 

 within the compass of a single season but a step or two only can be 

 gained. It will, therefore, be almost sufficient to report clear evidencfB 

 of progress as displayed — first, by the presence of a more than average 

 number of specimens conspicuous for structural refinement ; and ne:^t, 

 by the eagerness of most exhibitors to possess themselves of cross* s. 

 from stocks of sound pedigree. In Blacks the Vice-President carrif d; 

 many honours, showing no less than one-third of the number exhibited. 

 So pronounced an effort on the part of an experienced fancier, together 

 with the general usefulness of the birds possessed by other competitor?,, 

 should be the " foreshadow of coming events." 



Proverbial philosophy completely breaks down before the continued 

 plumage-debasement of the Reds. " When things come to the worst. 

 they are sure to stand still," appears to be for them the reading of 

 the old adage. But whether or no they are at their worst, or standing 

 still, or are mending, matters bnt little. To the fancier of taste and 

 skill they present an opportunity in the art of colour-enrichment 

 which assuredly will not be lost, the more so as a basis of structure 

 and carriage sufficiently sound remains. 



The Blue classes were distinguished not only by numerical strength, 

 but also by excellence. Birds of mark and character appeared at 

 every turn ; and, for the encouragement of English breeders, it may 

 be stated that the class for young Blue cocks was headed by the 

 London-bred bird which the week before had won the Crystal Palace 

 cup for tbe best cock bred in 1S70. 



As White Pouters display no special strU2tnral advantages over their 

 coloured kindred, purity of plumage is their essential distinctive title 

 to consideration. This essential is being disregarded, evfn at Edin- 

 burgh, where better things mif»ht have been expected. Although many 

 shapely birds enriched the White division, it must be insisted upon 

 that an Adonis-like form is no apology for dirt, but rather intensifies 

 the disfigurement. The bird's demeanour oven favours the bad 

 impression, and, any way, he is the worse of a town life. 



Of other salient points in the Pouter classes much in praise might 

 be said did space permit, but it will bo enough to add that a deter- 

 mined spirit of progress is manifest amongst the Scotch fanciers. It 

 is felt that the combination of superior form with refined colour and 

 marking presents an unlimited field for tasteful exertion, and it 



