November 17, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



401 



in Class 13, and having repeatedly applied to the Secretary for 

 the same without meeting with any response, we beg to ask 

 you what steps we should take to obtain payment ? — W. & C. 

 Burniston. 



[Let your solicitor give notice that if the prize is not paid 

 proceedings will be taken in the County Court. — Eds.] 



SOUTHAMPTON SHOW. 



I purchased a pen of prize poultry at the late Southampton 

 Show, gave my name and address at the Secretary's office, and 

 paid for it by cheque. I was assured that the bird3 would be 

 sent to me by rail as soon as the exhibition closed. Five days 

 elapsed, and after in vain sending every day, at considerable 

 inconvenience, to the railway station, I wrote to Mr. Philip 

 Warren, the Secretary, demanding the reason for the delay in 

 sending them, but received no reply. I also wrote to my 

 hanker, requesting him not to honour my cheque, but found it 

 had been presented and cashed three days previously. I then 

 thought of writing to the exhibitor, and by return of post had 

 a very kind answer, stating that he was not aware the birds 

 had been claimed, as they were sent back to bim, and it was 

 fortunate I had written in time, for he was on the point of 

 selling them to another person. 



I would on no account charge the Secretary with dishonour- 

 able conduct, but I do most unhesitatingly accuse him of gross 

 carelessness and neglect of duty. I am perfectly aware that 

 the secretary of such exhibitions has a most arduous task to 

 perform, and allowances must be made for accidents ; but 

 when a man undertakes a duty of the kind, he should feel his 

 responsibilities to the public, and, instead of sending a clerk to 

 the office, endeavour to be there himself. — J. D. Hoysted, The 

 Parsonage, Bradenstoke, Chippenham, Wilts. 



P.S- — I have just received (November 12th) the enclosed note 

 from Mr. Philip Warren. Nine days after the Show he has 

 thought proper to reply to my letter. 



AYR ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S SHOW. 

 [From a Correspondent.) 



The ninth annual exhibition of this Society was held in the 

 Assembly Rooms, Ayr, on the Pith inst. The Johnstone Show being 

 unfortunately fixed for the same day, there were considerably fewer 

 fancy Pigeons than in former years, but the young Pouter and Fantail 

 classes were the only two which were deficient in quality. The former 

 of these was a complete failure, there having been only three pens on 

 view, none of which in former years would have been considered 

 worthy of mention, the first prize being awarded to a pair of Mealies 

 of more than average length, but unmatched for colour and markings, 

 and deficient in carriage, although the absence of blocks in the pens 

 somewhat accounted for the lack of motion. The other two pens, Black 

 and Red, were better in colour and markings, but much inferior in 

 length of feather and form. Tho Pouters in the class for any age be- 

 longed to a much superior grade of birds, and although few in numbers 

 (seven pairs), there were several first-class pens. The first-prize Red 

 cock, originally from the loft of Mr. John E. Adam, of Canning Park, 

 is an old winner at this Show, and well deserved his place, although 

 the hen, never his equal, was in had feather. The second-prize pen 

 (Black) consisted of well-matched fair birds, but I think they would 

 have been better placed after the pen of Whites, which were placed 

 third ; hut all the others mentioned were so good and level in quality, 

 that I was not surprised to hear many fanciers of different opinions 

 as to the places awarded. 



The first-prize Carriers were a magnificent pair of Duns, which 

 judges and the public alike at first sight challenged as both cocks, but 

 they proved their sex, and were universally admitted to be deserving 

 of their place. The second-prize birds in my estimation were much 

 inferior to the very highly commended pen, and the third to several 

 not placed at all. 



The Short-faced Tumblers embraced six pens, all of superior quality ; 

 amongst them were several English celebrities, and I should have 

 liked to have seen pen 19, a pen of magnificent Blue Beards (hitherto 

 known as Mr. Frank Graham's, if I mistake not), placed higher than 

 very highly commended, but the three prize pens were all splendid, 

 Almonds ; the first two matched to a feather, and the third, containing 

 an old cock of extraordinary merit in head, beak, and carriage, but too 

 dark, and matched to a hen of comparatively little value. Altogether, 

 however, this class was an honour to the exhibition. 



The Barbs filled only four pens, and I rather think that the judges 

 made a mistake in not placing the third first, and vice versa, as in 

 everything except bright cere I thought them inferior to all the others 

 exhibited, and, before the Show closed, the cere was considerably 

 faded. I noticed that the very highly commended pen consisted of 

 birds of 1870, and I should have liked to have seen them awarded a 

 prize, as they were of rare quality. 



Tho Fantails, as I have stated, were a sorry lot, for although a few 



good birds were shown, there was not a pair of even average merit. 

 The first-prize cock was a grand-tailed bird, bat devoid of nerve, and 

 the hen was in my estimation simply a weed. Had the hen in the 

 very next pen belonging to the same exhibitor been shown with the 

 first-prize cock, the pair might have been worthy of a first place, but 

 amongst so many inferior birds the judges could not, perhaps, do 

 better than they did. 



The Jacobins, however, were the feature of the Exhibition, the 

 whole class being magnificent in chain and hood, and I believe the 

 judges must have 'decided the merits of the birds from the single point 

 of size, if I except the second-prize Whites, which for Whites were 

 really Rood. I think, however, that the first-prize Blacks should have 

 given place to the third-prize Yellows, and the very highly commended 

 Reds, both of the same owner, a very young lady, who is to be envied 

 for her magnificent stud of little short-faced, heavy-hooded, and long- 

 chained Jacks. The Trumpeters were no fewer tban I expected in a 

 place celebrated for this breed, and it is not too much to say that the 

 first-prize Blacks cannot be equalled out of Ireland. The Turbits, as a 

 whole, were good, the first-prize Reds and the second-prize Blues 

 being first-rate. In Owls I never saw such close competition — so close, 

 indeed, that fanciers wondered how the judges managed to draw a line, 

 there being only one pen below exhibition merit. Nuns and Magpies 

 were shown together. The former (all coarse except the first-prize 

 pen), monopolised the prize cards ; but the Magpies, I think, were far 

 more deserving. The common Tumblers and Selling Class call for no 

 remark, but the three pens placed in " the varieties," were all splendid 

 specimens, and there were many others of great beauty and merit. 



The Canaries (all of the Scotch Fancy) were admitted to be su- 

 perior to any ever seen in Ayr, although the local exhibitors did not 

 succeed in keeping many prizes at home. There was a good show of 

 fancy Doves, and conspicuous upon the tables was a beautiful pure 

 white Robin, the property of Sir Peter Coates, one of the Patrons of 

 the Society, or rather of Miss Coates, which attracted much notice. 



Annexed is the prize list. 



Pouters.— Young.— 1, A. C. Glass, Ayr. 2, D. Munn, Kilmarnock. 8, A 

 Crawford, Beith. Any age.— I, J. Blair, Kilmarnock. 2, D. Munn. 8, G. B. 

 Phillips, Ayr. he, Miss E. M. Beveridge, Ayr. c, A. H. Imrie, Bourtree Park, 

 Ayr. 



Carriers .— -1, A. Brown. Kilmarnock (Dun). 2, D. Munn {Black). S, Miss E. 

 M. Beveridge (Black), vhc, R. Gibson, Kilmarnock, he, J. Mair. c, A. C. 

 Glass. 

 . Tumblers (Short-faced).— 1, T. "Wilson, Gas "Works, Stewarton (Almonds). 



2, J. Mair (Almonds). 8, MiBS E. M. Beveridge (Almonds), vhc and he, Miss 

 Beveridge (Blue Beards and Agates). 



Barbs.— 1, J. G. Orr, Beith (Red). 2, D. Young, Ayr (Black). 3, Miss E. M. 

 Beveridgo (Red), vhc, G. B. Phillips (Black). 

 Fantails.— 1. R. McM. BankB, Broomberry (White). 2, T. Wilson (White). 



3, R. Gibson (White), vhc, F. Graham, Birkenhead, he, J. D. Bin-ell, St. 

 Quivox. c, J. Gait, Kilbirnio. 



Jacobins.— 1 and 3, Miss E. M. Beveridse (Black and Yellow). 2, J. Gait 

 (White), vhc, Miss Beveridge (Red), c, D. Young (Red). 



Trumpeters.—!, Miss E. M. Beveridge (Black). 2. D. Munn (White). 3, Miss 

 Beveridge (Mottles), vhc, J. G. Orr (Mottles), he, G. B. Phillips (White), c, J. 

 D. Birrell (White). 



Turbits.— 1, Miss E. M. Beveridge (Red). 2, D. Munn (Blue). 3, Mrs. J. 

 Muir, Dairy (Silver), vhc. D. Young (Red), he, R. McM. Banks (Silver). 

 c, W. McKinlay, Kilmarnock (Blue). 



Owls.— 1, A. H. Imrie (Blue). 2. W. McKinlay (Blue}. 8, J. Mair (Blue). 

 vhc, Miss E. M". Beveridge (Blue) ; he and c, G. B. Phillips (Silver). 



Nuns OR Magpies.-I, F. Graham (Black Nuns). 2 and c, W. McKinlay 

 Black Nuns and Magpies). 3, T. Imrie, Bourtree Park (Black Nuns), vhc, G\ 

 B. Phillips (Yellow Magpies). 



Tumblers (Common).— 1, G. B. Phillips (Black Balds). 2, W. McKinlay 

 (Blue Barred). 3, A. C. Glass (Yellow), vhc, R. Kirkland (Black), he, Miss E. 

 M. Beveridge (Mottles), c, A. Crawford (Black). 



Any other Variety.— 1, T. Imrie (Archangels). 2. Miss E. M. Beveridge 

 (Starlinqs). 3, F. Graham (Lahores). vhc, J. McCreath, Forehill (Dragoons). 

 he, A. H. Imrie (Antwerps). c, G. B. Phillips (Austrian Pouters). 



Selling Class.— 1 and 3, G. B. Phillips (Pouters and Carriers). 2, T. Dnrie 

 (Blue Pouters), vhc and c, A. Crawford (Fantails and White Barbs), he, R. 

 McM. Banks (Priests). 



CANARIES. 



Yellow— Cocfc.—l, R. Hanston. Kilbirnie. 2. D. Dick, Kilmarnock. 8, J. 

 Pattison. Elderslie. Hen.—l, J. Wilson, Beith. 2. R. Crawford. 3, R. Crone, 

 Dalmellington. 



Buff— Cock.— 1, 3. Conn, Armick Lodge. 2,'R. Crawford, Kilbirnie. 3, T. 

 MeVie, Kilwinning. Ben.—l, H. Davidson, Armick Lodge. 2, R. Houston, 

 Kilbirnie. 3, R. Crawford. 



Piebald.— Yellow.— Cock. — I, H. Johnstone. Johnatone. 2, J. Glasgow, 

 Beith. 8. H. Calder, Ayr. Ben.—l, A. Crawford. 2, J. Seauiar, Kilmarnock. 

 3. H. Johnstone. Buff.— Cock.— 1 and 3, A. Boreland, Galston. 2, J. Norris 

 Ardrossan. Hen.—l, A. Crawford. 2, R. Baxter, Beith. 3, J. Norris. 



Goldfinch Mule.— Yellow.— 1 and 2, G. Brvden, Ayr. 3, J. M. Nicol, Pottery, 

 Old Cumnock, Buff.— I and 2, H. Gondie. 3. J. M. Nicol. 



Parrots.— 1, R. J. Newton. 2, A, Glass. Shell.— 1, R. Smith, Ayr. 



STOCKTON-ON-TEES ORNITHOLOGICAL 

 SOCIETY'S SHOW. 



The second annual exhibition of Canaries, Mules, and British birds, 

 was held in the Temperance Hall, Stockton, on the 12th. inst., when 

 birds of first-rate quality were brought together, but the number was 

 somewhat smaller than last year. 



The closest competition was in the Lizard classes, which were re- 

 markably good, the same birds being exhibited as those sent to other 

 shows in the district, although some of them have since changed 

 owners. The Norwich classes were also very well represented. The 

 Variegated Mule prize bird was a splendid yellow. The British birds 

 made up the most extensive class in the Show, and embraced a great 

 variety of specimens, some of which, although, they did not boast a 

 card on the cage, were very much admired by visitors. 



Subjoined are the awards. 

 Belgian.— Clear Yellow.— 1, J. N. Harrison, Belper. 2, R. Robinson, Middles- 



