December 15, 1370. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



481 



were placed " first " by Mr. Huie against birds which had beaten 

 them fourteen days before. One of the shows to which I sent 

 them was held at the place from which I write, and they were 

 beaten by a pair of birds pure as the driven snow at the show, 

 but when they were ten days in the loft of a gentleman who 

 claimed them, they had a strong likeness to a Silver-spangled 

 Hamburgh. 



Well, sir, as I would not dress, I sold, and these birds are now 

 the property of a fancier who considers them the best pair of 

 Nuns in the world. I never knew them beaten except when I 

 had them, and they were as good then as ever they were or can 

 be. I state these facts as my experience of trimming, and I 

 would say it is a disgusting practice. 



I would suggest that the prospectus of our shows should not 

 only contain a prohibition against trimming and painting, but 

 that where the judges find out that birds have been doctored, 

 they should be empowered to confiscate the whole pen, and in 

 cases of strong suspicion keep possession of the birds for a 

 reasonable time to make certain. Unless some strong measure 

 like this be adopted, true lovers of Columba will keep their pets 

 at home rather than be quacked out of their due by those who 

 trim or employ professional bird- stutters to do it for them. Per- 

 haps you do not believe there are men who live by trimming 

 birds for other people by the job ; if so, you are mistaken, be- 

 cause I know one loft where, before every show of importance, 

 there is to be found a professional man, who comes expressly to 

 dress exhibition birds, and is well paid for it. He can insert as 

 well as extract, blacken, whiten, and redden, or do almost any- 

 thing an ill bird requires to make - it look a good one, and he 

 does it well. It is not honest, however, and I uphold that to 

 pull out a feather is the same as to put one in — that is, it is — 

 a swindle.— E. M. B. 



KILMARNOCK ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S 

 SHOW. 



The nineteenth Exhibition of this Society was held in the Corn 

 Exchange Hall and Butter Market, Kilmarnock, on the 26th of No- 

 vember, and was more successful than, any previous show. The entries 

 for poultry numbered 32-1 ; the Pigeons 294 ; the Canaries, Mules, 

 Goldfinches, and other birds, 202, nearly all of which came forward, 

 there being vevy fow empty pens. 



Spanish (1(3 pens), were decidedly above the average. The first 

 prize went to a pair of fine birds, the cock also winning the silver 

 medal offered as a special prize to the best coclc or cockerel in the 

 class. The second-prize pen contained a very superior cock, but the 

 hen was scarcely equal to him. Miss Craufard exhibited a very supe- 

 rior single cock shown for the medal, and Mr. Stuart's commended 

 pen contained a most excHllent hen bnt badly matched. Dressing 

 the faces in this class obviously did not disqualify, as certain of the 

 winning birds were most beautifully done. We, however, think it 

 would be fairer to the general body of exhibitors if judges would either 

 rigidly disqualify all such birds, or societies state in their schedules 

 that removing haii*3 from tho face and feathers to the farthest limit of 

 the white would be admitted. 



Dorkings (18 pens), were a fair class. The first-prize pair were 

 large and well matched, the cock being a little deficient in comb. He 

 would, however, have easily secured the timepiece offered for the best 

 cock or cockerel in this class, but was unfortunately not entered for it. 

 Tho third-prize pair were most excellent Silver-Greys, this cock being 

 awarded the timepiece. 



Brahmas or Cochins (18 pens). Thirteen Brahmas and five Cochins ; 

 but notwithstanding the disparity in numbers tho Cochins succeeded 

 in carrying off the bulk of the honours, securing first, third, and fourth, 

 and a commendation, while the Brahmas had to be content with a 

 second prize and high commendation. The Brahma cock in the second- 

 prize pen was probably the best bird in the class, but matched with a 

 hen good in colour and marking, yet much too small. 



Scotch Greys. — This, although somewhat a local breed, did not 

 muster more than fifteen pen3, of which the first and second-prize pens 

 were remarkably fine specimens. The second-prize cock had as finely a 

 ■marked tail as we ever saw, being entirely free from either black or 

 white feathers. He was, however, deficient in size and shape as com- 

 pared to the first-prize bird, which also gained the timepiece for the 

 best cock or cockerel in this and the preceding class. 



Eor the benefit of English fanciers we may here state that this class 

 of birds are coloured exactly like Cuckoo Dorkings, and are, indeed, 

 esteemed the more the hearer they approach the Dorking type in 

 everything but the number of toes, five being at present a disqualifi- 

 cation. We think it would be much better to admit the fivo toes, and 

 as the colour has long been, and still is, the favourite one amongst 

 Scotch barndoor fowls, to call them by the name of Scotch Dorkings. 



Golden-spangled Hamburghs (2S pens), eight or nine of them being 

 worthy of first honours at any show. The breed is evidently strong in 

 this neighbourhood, as another local exhibitor secured the second prize, 

 the third being won by Mr. Will with a splendid cock, but the hen 

 very slightly deficient in marking. 



Silver-spangled Hamhurghs (23 pens), the class being decidedly 

 superior to what it has ever been in former years. The first-prize cock 

 was also awarded the timepiece offered to the best cock of the Silver- 

 spangled or Silver-pencilled classes. 



Golden-pencilled Hanwurghs (21 pens), were a very superior class. 

 We believe the equal of the first-prize hen has rarely been seen, and 

 we have no doubt that she will score a few more prizes yet for her 

 worthy owner. 



Silver-pencilled Hamburghs (12 pens). — In the first-prise pen the 

 cock was first-rate in head, tail, and style, and, had his colour not been 

 slightly tinged with yellow, the timepiece offered between the cocks of 

 this class and the Silver-spangled must have gone to this bird. 



Polands. — Of those there were only three pens. 



Game fowls (25 pens), the Brown Reds securing the whole of the 

 prizes, beiug superior iu shape to those of the other colours. The 

 first-prize cock was in shape and styls a perfect model of a Game fowl, 

 but was slightly deficient in colour. He was, however, awarded the 

 timepiece offered for the best cock amougst tho Poland, Game, and 

 Any variety classes. 



Game Bantams (52 pens). — The timepiece offered for the best cock 

 or cockerel in this class was won by an excellent Black Red, but he 

 was matched with a hen so inferior in colour and in such bad condition 

 that the pen was not otherwise mentioned in the prize list. The first 

 prize was awarded to Black Reds and tho second to Piles. Wo ob- 

 served the cockerel in this pen had the comb white, looking as if newly 

 cut, and he was scarcely in good-enough condition, otherwise we think 

 the position of the two pens would have been reversed. 



Black and White Bantams. — The first prize was awarded to a very 

 small pair of Blacks excellent in colour and siyle, the cock also winning 

 the timepiece for the best cock or cockerel. Tho second prize went to 

 Blacks inferior in colour to the first, and the third to very excellent 

 Whites, which in the opinion of some parties should havo been awarded 

 the second prize. 



Bantams of any other variety (10 pens), were mostly Sebrights. 

 The first prize and silver medal for the best pair in the class were 

 awarded to a pair of Goldens immeasurably superior to anything else. 

 If we mistake not, they wore those which were first at Johnstone Show 

 a fortnight before, where they also attracted considerable attention. 

 The second prize was awarded to Silvers, the third to Goldens, and 

 the fourth to Scotch Greys, which latter should be fac-similea of the 

 largo breed of the same name, but wo fancy we have seen better 

 specimens. 



Any other distinct breed. — The first and second prizes were awarded 

 to Crcvo-Cceurs, and the third and fourth to Black Hamburghs. 



Aylesbury Ducks (6 pens), excellent in quality. Rouen Ducks 

 (12 pens). 



Ducks any other variety (S pens). — The Judge in this class was 

 evidently inclined to encourage the useful more than tho ornamental . 

 Calls were first, Black East Indian second, Muscovy third, and the 

 beautiful Carolinas only fourth and highly commended. 



PIGEONS. 



On entering the Hall the first birds that mot our view were 



Old Pouters any colour. — The first-prize pair (Blue) wore fine birdV, 

 good length of feather and limbs, the hen rather grey in marking. 

 This pair of bird3 also carried the special prize for the class. The 

 second-prize pair wcro Blacks, good in colour and marking, though not 

 equal in stylo to the former pair. Third-prize, a pair of Reels, the 

 cock in particular a very fine bird in splendid show. This class a3 a 

 whole was good. 



Pouters bred in 1870 (any colour).— A very good clas3, some pairs 

 not well matched, but many of the birds, particularly the cocks, showed 

 great promise. The length of feather seemed to prevail, that of limb 

 rather deficient. 



Carriers (any colour). — This was the finest class of Carriers ever 

 shown at this competition, and we have seldom seen a finer out of a 

 city show. The first-prize pair were really grand birds ; they also 

 carried off the timepiece (special prize). The second-prize pair were 

 also fine, and the third-prize was taken by a Kilmarnock breeder. 



Carriers l>red in 1870. — A very fine class. Some of these birds were 

 in point of form and elegance complete, both Blacks and Duns. Mr. 

 W. Massey, who carried off the first prize in the old class, was also 

 first in this. The two classes of Carriers were certainly the finest in 

 the Show, besides being the largest. 



SJiort-faced Tumblers were a very good class. The first prize went 

 to Almonds, very line though poor in colour. This pair ought to have 

 also carried off the special prize, but, as they were not entered for it, 

 the special fell to the second-prize pair, also Almonds. In this class 

 were a pair of very fine Kites and good Black Mottles. 



Barbs. — A good class. A pair of Yellows took the first prize, and 

 a pair of pretty Reds the second. Several pairs were ill-matched. 



Fantails were a large and fine class. Excepting a pair of Black 

 Saddlebacks all were pure Whites. The first-prize pair were spleniid, 

 the second and third very fine, and numerous pens contained fine speci- 

 mens of both sexes badly matched. 



Jacobins. — A poor class. This breed does not seem to improve 

 anywhere. 



Turbits were a good class. The first-prize pair seemed to have been 

 birds lately imported. There were a number of pretty sweet-looking 

 birds and well-marked, but, as at most shows now-a-days, too many 

 having the shell crown instead of the pointed or turn crown. 



