November 24, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



421 



read better, " Pigeons, ' Wiltshire Eector,' " and then give 

 Canaries and Aviary Birds a line to themselves ? A little 

 spacing-out, and a piece of " furniture" here and there would 

 do it without destroying the symmetry of the page. Don't you 

 think so ? 



Yes, I was among the Pigeons at Newcastle, and Mr. Fulton 

 Mndly went round and did all he could to lead me astray, and 

 tempt me into his fancy. He explained the distinctive points 

 of the different varieties in a most interesting manner ; and 

 with such apparently faultless standards of perfection before 

 us to illustrate his lecture, he had no difficulty in pointing out 

 what constituted a first-class and what a second-class bird. 

 But I am afraid I was not a very apt pupil, though I can 

 recognise a Pouter, a balloon-looking gentleman on a half 

 brick, a Barb, a Dragoon (and you must not try to deceive me 

 with a half-bred Carrier after Mr. Pulton's lesson), a Fantail, 

 a Carrier, and a Trumpeter. The general appearance of the 

 Show was very imposing, the arrangement perfection ; and I 

 am sure there was but one opinion that Mr. Blenkinsop, the 

 Honorary Secretary, and his coadjutors are men well up in 

 their business, and fit custodians of the reputation of New- 

 castle as regards the exhibition of Pigeons and cage birds. The 

 Corn Exohange in which the Show was held covers an im- 

 mense area, but the lighted gas kept it at a comfortable tem- 

 perature, and not even the most delicate specimens experienced 

 any inconvenience. 



In the Canaries Mr. Butter took all the Belgian prizes, the 

 only specimen approximating to the quality of his being 

 No. 452 (J. N. Harrison), a remarkably fine bird, showing true 

 Belgian contour and " position." The silver medal for the 

 best bird in the Belgian classes was won by No. 453, a yellow 

 hen. Norwich were strong, Moore & Wynne taking the lion's 

 share of prizes, and Mr. Mills the silver medal with No. 495, 

 Evenly-marked Jonque, exhibited in faultless trim. The 

 Glasgow Dons, the bird of Scotland, formed a prominent feature 

 of the Show, Mr. Clark, of Newcastle, winning the medal with 

 a remarkably neat bird. In Goldfinch Mules, Mr. Young's 

 well-known buff bird won the silver medal easily, disposing of 

 all oomers, Jonque and Mealy, including divers birds "clipped 

 and trimmed." The Judge's opinion was duly handed in, but 

 as I observed no intimation of the same affixed to the oages, 

 I do not feel in a position, as reporter of a show, to mention 

 names. I have elsewhere expressed my opinion as to what 

 should be done in such cases, and what are the relative duties 

 of judge and committee. 



It was a cruel thing to ask any judges to decide between 

 Mr. Spenee's Brown Linnet Male and Mr. Stansfield's Bull- 

 finch and Goldfinch Mule. Perhaps the equal of each never 

 was seen. Mr. Irons took the medal for the beBt birds among 

 the Cinnamons, Greens, and Any variety with one of his fine 

 Jonques, and Mr. Baxter, of Newcastle, was able to add a 

 copper kettle to his stock of kitcben utensils through the aid 

 of a good Goldfinch ; and a fine Linnet won the silver medal 

 for Mr. Briggs, also of " canny Newcastle." Among the Foreign 

 Birds, a Mocking Bird, shown by Captain J. F. B. Dodds in 

 splendid plumage, occupied much attention, and took first 

 honours. 



Judging over, I with Mr. Corker, of Croydon, one of the 

 Judges of Pigeons ; Mr. Horner, of Leeds ; and Mr. Firth, of 

 Dewsbury, both well-known successful exhibitors of Pigeons, 

 were the guests of W. B. Van Haanshergen, Esq., who taxed j 

 the dining resources of the Union Club on our behalf in a 

 way which they and I will not soon forget. We had already 

 lunched with the Secretary, but hospitality appears to be one 

 of the "rules and regulations" of the Newcastle-on-Tyne 

 Ornithological Association. — W. A. Blakstou. 



There were nearly five hundred pens of Pigeons, and of a quality 

 never before seen at Newcastle ; the liberal prize list and indefatigable 

 exertions of the Honorary Secretary, Mr. H. 0. Blenkinsop, having 

 brought about this desirable result. The Corn Exchange in which 

 the Exhibition was held is, perhaps, unequalled for the purpose, being 

 convenient, capable of accommodating several hundreds of visitors, 

 ■with ample room for the pens, which were all on one level, and on 

 this occasion the temperature was well regulated by the use of nu- 

 merous gas jets. Not a single mishap occurred either to the Pigeons 

 or Canaries, and too much praise cannot be given to the attendants, 

 who looked well after the feeding, &c, of the birds. 



In Carriers, Messrs. Fulton, Massey, and Horner monopolised the 

 prizes. Mr. Massey's birds took our fancy very much ; their fresh, 

 healthy, genuine appearance, combined with properties of head, beak, 

 eye, and figure, render it more than probable that they may turn the 



tables on their more aged and better furnished competitors at some 

 future shows. 



In Pouters, the most noticeable birds were Mr. Fulton's Yellow, 

 Blue, and Black cocks, and Yellow and Blue lens, all of which were 

 excellent. We must not omit to mention the second-prize Blue cock 

 and hen shown by local exhibitors, Messrs. Thomson & Simpson, who 

 well merited the position they attained. The White Pouters were a 

 fine lot, several pens being worthy of a prize. 



Almond Tumblers were a show of themselves — nineteen pens, and 

 at least fourteen very good. Mr. Blenkinsop's pair were deservedly 

 first. The cock in this pen and that in Mr. Vaux's pen were the two 

 best head-and-beak birds in the Show. Messrs. Ford, Horner, and 

 Adams, also showed very good birds. Ml'. Ford won with beautiful 

 Black Mottles in the " other " Tumbler class. Yellow, whole feathers, 

 were second. No other pen was good. 



In the Barbs Mr. J. Firth was first with a magnificent pair of Blacks 

 in the class of that colour. The cup in this section was awarded to 

 this pen, the cock being unquestionably one of the very best birds of 

 the day. Mr. Firth was also first with a good pair of young Yellow 

 Barbs. Mr. Fielding showed a good pair of Yellows, but they were 

 much out of condition, and Mr. Fulton had a pretty pair of Whites, 

 the best we have seen for some time. 



Foreign Owls were a good class. English Owls had a large entry, 

 but many pens were obviously passed over. 



Of Jacobins there were twenty-three entries, some of the best birds 

 were in deep moult. The winners were good Beds. In this class 

 several pens contained an excellent and an indifferent bird ; mostly 

 the Yellows were too coarse, excepting those of Mr. Van Haanshergen 

 and Mr. Fulton, and both their pens were out of condition. For Jaco- 

 bins of any other colour Mr. Van Haanshergen took both prizes, bis 

 Whites being the best we ever saw, his fine pair of Blacks also taking 

 the sectional cup. 



Fantails were a splendid class ; five or six pens seemed almost equally 

 good, and each worthy of a first prize. It would be very desirable to 

 give this variety a little more pen room. 



Trumpeters were a good class ; Mr. Horner's birds the best in rose 

 and crest, but deficient in feet and marking. Mr. J. Firth's pair took 

 first, the cock a grand bird ; Mr. Van Haanshergen was second with 

 a splendidly booted and rosed pair, but too light in mottle. Whites 

 were first in the " Any other " Trumpeter class ; Blacks second, both 

 good. A novelty was shown in a pair of Keds, good in properties, but 

 sooty in colour. 



The Turbit classes contained good birds of every colour. The same 

 may be said of the Magpies. 



Nuns were a good class. Yellows, Duns, and Blacks were shown. 



Chequered Dragoons were first in their class, Yellows second ; good 

 Blues, Yellows, and Whites also competed. 



Antwerps were an average collection. 



Common Tumblers were not particularly noticeable, excepting that 

 many pens were evidently left out on account of not answering the 

 requirements of the schedule. 



The prizes for Any other variety were won by good Letz. Good 

 Swiss were shown, and pigmy Austrian Pouters ; also a pair of white 

 birds, which looked something like a cross between a Eunt and a Fan- 

 tail, runti;hly-made birds with short boh tails. 



In the Selling class many pens were claimed. 



The following is the prize list : — 



Carriers.— Black. — Cock— I, E. Homer, Harewood. Leeds. 2, W. Massey 

 Spalding, vhe, R. Fulton, Deptford. he. R. Fulton; T. Colley, Walkley, 

 Sheffield ; G. J. Taylor, Fartown, Huddersfield. c, F. Smith, Selley Oak, Bir- 

 mingham. Ben— I and Cup, E. Fulton. 2, G. J. Taylor, vhe, F. Smith, he. R. 

 Fulton : E. Horner, c, E. Horner. Dun, or ami other colour except Black. — 

 Cock.—l and c, E. Fulton. 2, W. Massey. he, G. J. Taylor. Hen.—l, J.Thomp- 

 son, Bingley. 2 and vhe, E. Fulton, he, T. Colley. 



Pouters.— Bine or Black.— Cock— I, Cup, and vhe, R. Fulton (Black and 

 Blue) 2, Thompson & Simpson, Wideopen. Newcastle, he, E.Fulton (Blue); 

 A. Wintour, Edinburgh (Blue) (2) : E. Horner. Bcn.—l and vhe, R. Fulton 

 (Blue). 2, Thompson & Simpson (Blue), he. E. Fulton (Black) ; E. Horner. 

 c, E. Horner. Bed or Yellow.— Cock.— I and he, R. Fulton (Red and Yellow). 

 2. J. Walker, Newark (Eed). c, A. Wright, Eden Side. Edinburgh (Red) ; W. 

 Harvey. Sheffield lYellow) : H. Brown. Walkley, Sheffield (Red) ; J. Bell. New- 

 castle (Eed). Hen.—l and 2, E. Fulton (Yellow), vhe, H. Brown, lie, A. 

 Wright (Red) ; C. Vaux, East Boldon, Sunderland. White-Cock— 1, W. Har- 

 vey. 2, E. Horner, he, E. Fulton (2) ; J. Morrison, Morning Side, Edinburgh 

 (2). Hen.— 1. E. Fulton. 2, W. Harvey, he. H. Cockton, Middlesbrough ; R. 

 Fulton; J. Hawley, Bingley. Any other Colour— Cock— -1, W. Moon, Edin- 

 burgh (Checker). 2, H. Brown, vhe. W. B. Van Haanshergen, Newcastle 

 (Ash), he, R. Fulton (Mealy). Hen,— 1, J. Morrison (Chequer). 2, W. Moon, 

 Edinburgh (-plash). 



Tumbi-ers. — short-faced— Almond— \ and Medal. W. R. & H. O. Blenkinsop, 

 Newcastle. 2, J. Ford, London, vhe, E. Horner, he, E. T. Dew, Weston-super- 

 Mare ; C. Vaux ; H. Adams. Beverlev. Any other Colour.— 1, J. Ford (Black 

 Mottles. 2 G. J. Tavlor. vhe, W. R. & H. O. Blenkinsop. 



Barbs.— Black.— 1 and Cup. J. Firth, Dewsbury. 2 and c, R. Fulton, he, R. 

 Fulton ; E. Horner. Any oth-er colour except Black. — 1, J. Firth. 2, R. Fulton. 

 he, J. Fielding, inn., Rochdale: W. Massey (Red); C.Vaux; J. King, Newcastle 

 (Eed). 



Owls (Foreign).— 1. R. Fulton, Fulham. 2, W. R. & H. O. Blenkinsop. he, 3. 

 Fielding, jun. ; P. H. Jones. 



Jacobins. — Bed or Yellow. — 1, E. Horner. 2, N. F. Nalder, Croydon (Red). 

 he, T. C. & E. Newbitt, Epworth ; R. Fulton ; W. B. Van Haanshergen (Eed and 

 Yellow) : W. Harvey. Any other Colour.— 1, Cup, 2, and he, W. B. Van Haans- 

 hergen (Black and White). 



Fantails.— White.— 1, R. Fulton. 2, J. F. Loversidge, Newark-on-Trent. 

 he, J. F. LoverBidge ; J. Walker ; T. Rule, Durham ; W. R. Park, Melrose ; W. 

 Hendry, Aberdeen. Any other Colour. — 1, P. H. Jones. 2, H. Yardley. 



Trumpeters.— Mottled.— 1, J. Firth. 2, W. B. Van Haanshergen. he, W. 

 Harvey. Any other Colour. — 1, W. H. C. Oates, Besthorpe, Newark (White). 

 2, T. Rule, he, .1. Firth ; W. R. & H. O. Blenkinsop. 



Turbits.— Bed or Yellow— 1, P. H. Jones. 2, J. Fielding, jun. (Red). Blue, 

 or any other colour.— 1, W. R. & H. 0. Blenkinsop. 2, T. Rule, ha, E. T. Dew 

 (Silver). 



