August 29, 1872. ] 



JOUENAL OF HOETIGULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



181 



breeds of poultry are to be shown separately — i.e., single 

 cockerels and single pullets, and noperson in any way connected 

 with the management of the Show will compete for the prizes 

 offered. 



WOODSOME POULTRY SHOW. 



The village of Woodsome is within a few miles of Hudders- 

 field, and its Show is very popular in the district. 



Babbits were first on the list, and the few that were shown 

 were good specimens. 



There was but one pen of Dorkings, and there were two of 

 Spanish, the first-prize pair of the latter variety being ex- 

 tremely fine in quality of face and drop. In Cochins the first- 

 prize Partridge were very good in colour and condition, and the 

 winning Game, though not in feather, were of good quality. In 

 Polands and Bamburghs Mr. Beldon had most of the classes to 

 himself ; but in Bantams the entries were more numerous. The 

 Aylesbury and Eouen Bucks were of fair quality in both classes. 

 One class was devoted to chickens, the first being nice Buff 

 Cochins, second Black Hamburghs, and the third Gold-pencilled. 

 In Pigeons there was nothing of note, with the exception of 

 the first-prize Fantails, which were very fine. 



Dorkings — 1, E. Leech, Rochdale. 



Spanish— 1, J. Powell, Bradford. 2, J. Thresh, Bradford. 



Coohin-Chisa.— Cinnamon or Buff— I, H. Lacv, Hebden Bridge. 2, J. White, 

 Netherton, Wakefield. 



Cochin-China.— Cinnamon or Buff.—l, J. White. 2, H. Beldon, Goitstock, 

 Bingley. he, H. Lacy. 



Game.— Black-breasted or Brown Red.— I, E. Avkrovd, Eccloshill. 2, J. Mason, 

 Worcester. Any other Colour.— 1, E. Avkroyd. 2. J. Smith, liiikburton, 



Polands.— 1 and he, H. Beldon. 2, J. Battye. Holmfirth. 



Brahmas— 1, E. Leech. 2, H. Lacv. c, A. H. Haiffh, Lindley. 



BmBVRGna— Gold-pencilled —1, H. Beldon. 2. J. Brooke. Gold-spannled. 

 —1, tJ. Beldon. Silver-pencilled.— -1, H. Beldon. Silver-spanoled.— 1, H- Beldon. 



Game Bantams.— 1 and 2, G. Nohle, Staincliffe, Dewsbury. he, J. Nutter, jun., 

 Cleekheaton. 



Bantams— 1, H. Beldon. 2, E. H. Ashton, Mottram, Manchester. Extra 2, 

 E. Walton, Horncliffe, Kawtenstall. 



Ducks.— Aylesbury— \ and 2, E. Leech, he, H. Beldon. c. J. Hey, Hudders- 

 field. Rouen— 1 and he, J. Crosland, Huddersfield. 2, J. White. 



Turkey.— 1, E. Leech. 



Ant vabxett.— Chickens— 1, .T. Hey. 2, T. Hopkinson, Slaithwaite. he, B. 

 Lockwood, Holmfirth ; G. Blackburn. Outlane. 



Extra Stock— 2, G. Blackburn (Black Hamburgh). 



PIGEONS. 

 Pouters.— 1, G. D. Garside. Marsh. 

 Tumblers.— 1. G. D. Garside. 



Fantails — 1, J, F. Loverside, Newark, Notts. 2, G. D. Garside. 

 Jacobins. — 1, G. D. Garside. 

 Barbs. — 1. G. D. Garside. 

 Common Dovecote— 1, G. D. Garside. 2, J. H. Sykes, Almondbury. 



Rabbits.— Lop-eared —1 and 2, T. C. & H. Lord, Huddersfield. Any other 

 Variety.— \ and 2, T. C. & H. Lord. 



Judges. — Mr. E. Hutton, Pudsey, Leeds, and Mr. W. D. 

 Henshall, Highburton. 



CITY COLUMBARIAN SOCIETY. 

 The first meeting this season of the members of the City 

 Columbarian Society was held on the 22nd inst. at their new 

 rooms, "The City of London Hotel," Bloomfield Street, 

 Bishopsgate. The birds shown were all young ones of this 

 season. Among them were some splendid Carriers and Barbs, 

 shown by Mr. 11. Hedley ; Carriers, Pouters, Barbs, Tumblers, 

 and Jacobins by Mr. Fulton, whose birds were quite a show by 

 themselves; Carriers by Messrs. Herritage, Yetton, Shuter, 

 and Hammock ; and Almond Tumblers, for which this Society 

 stands pre-eminent, by Messrs. Gillett, Hall, Young, Davies, 

 Stuck, and Ford. The birds shown were pronounced by all 

 present, visitors as well as members, to be some of the best that 

 have been seen for some years, considering the early period of 

 the season. 



TUMBLERS NOT TUMBLING. 



Three different communications have reached me on this 

 subject, showing that the fact of Tumblers not tumbling, and 

 the consequent disappointment of purchasers, is no common 

 case. Two out of the three letters which have been forwarded 

 tome are partly of the nature of private correspondence, but I 

 will quote portions of them, as I am sure fanciers are always 

 willing to let their remarks become public when they can either 

 benefit or interest brother fanciers. 



First, writes to me a former correspondent of " our Journal," 

 Mr. Ch Hardy, of Fulhani Eoad, Brompton. 



"I have been a fancier for the last thirty years, and I have 

 only just found out the kind of birds to fly, and they are the 

 pretty Black or Red Baldhead. I am having my flight made up 

 of nothing else but tumbling Baldheads. I do not care about 

 their being perfect in feather or marks 60 long as they have 

 white flights, tails, and white rumps. I can get cocks, but not 

 hens, and they are not short-faced but longish-faced birds. 



"I hope shortly to have a first-class flight. I have lately been 

 *o Leicester, Coventry, and Birmingham, but could not find one 

 to suit me. I saw one gentleman's flight at Leicester. They 



flew five hours and a half without settling, but they do not 

 tumble much ; they are all of the same appearance as the Roller 

 breed — in fact, they in-breed from these, and the tumbling has 

 been bred out of them ; fly as many as thirty in a flight, and 

 they go into the clouds in fine weather, and it is very difficult to 

 find them sometimes. No doubt Leicester bears the palm for 

 high and long flying. I have a good many Black Balds of the 

 Birmingham class that tumble beautifully ; if they are crossed 

 with Short-faced Black Baldheads they could be got to a very 

 nice sort of flying and tumbling Black Baldheads." 



This is very interesting, and conveys my exact idea of Bald- 

 heads being the perfection of tumblers for beauty of appearance 

 in the air. A little girl looking at mine high up in the atmo- 

 sphere, where even, though so high, the distinction of colour 

 between white and black was visible, although the birds were 

 rendered very small by their altitude, said to me, " They look 

 like reels of white cotton twisting over in the air." I have fre- 

 quently noticed that a child's own unprompted remark often 

 exactly hits the truth. In regard to Mr. Hardy's letter, I may 

 say that my taste is so fastidious that I must have good birds 

 to look at on the ground, as well as good birds in the air, and 

 out of good Baldheads for both purposes I have as yet only 

 obtained Blacks. 



Next on the Tumbler subject comes a letter from a North- 

 amptonshire vicar, who thus writes : — 



" "When I was a boy I used to have a flight of Tumblers, the 

 thought of which after a lapse of twenty-five years makes me 

 enthusiastic. They used to fly high and tumble well — that is, 

 never drop. They had white wings and pearl eyes, no feathers 

 on their legs. About a year and a half ago I thought I should 

 like to start my boys with a flight, but I met with nothing but 

 disappointment. I have had birds from all parts of England, 

 but cannot get the right thing. I have given 10s. a-pair, which 

 ought to be enough. I used to think 4s. or 5s. very extravagant 

 when I was a boy. 



" Where do these feathered legs come from ? They are an 

 abomination. 



" I was quite delighted to read your letter. Your views on the 

 Tumbler question are so precisely my own." 



Now, thirdly, on this subject, there came to me this morning 

 the following letter from a " Somersetshire Squire :" — 



" I think every Tumbler fancier will agree that Tumblers of 

 the Blue and Black Baldhead breed are now bought with more 

 uncertainty than ever as to their tumbling, but with regard to 

 Red and Black Mottles my experience points the other way. I 

 have bred Tumblers for six years and upwards, and beg to 

 inform 'Wiltshire Rector ' that "unless he drafts every year 

 the bad or non-tumbling birds he will with difficulty obtain a 

 good flight. I never kept Blue or Black Baldheads for any 

 length of time, as they never tumble with any certainty. If 

 ' Wiltshire Rector ' wants to see one of the best flights of 

 birds in England, let him come and see a flight of forty birds 

 belonging to — A Somersetshire Squire." 



This is also very interesting, and as the writer kindly sends 

 me his address, I may add that I shall be most happy to accept 

 his kind invitation, particularly as his town in Somerset and 

 mine in Wilts are not far apart, and easy of access by rail. — 

 "Wiltshire Rector. 



There is another reason, and probably one of greater weight, 

 besides the one adduced by " Wiltshire Rector " himself, for 

 the non-tumbling of our modern Tumblers. There is no doubt 

 but that in-breeding with the Short-faces for the sake of sym- 

 metry and colour — in fact, reducing the Tumbler to a fancy 

 Pigeon, wholly, has had much to do with its physical deteriora- 

 tion ; but the chief cause is, I believe, to be found in the great 

 and increasing taste for the homing Pigeons. This will apply 

 to the London district, for the taste for Tumblers in the midland 

 district is as great (and, perhaps, becoming greater yearly) as 

 ever, and there can be no complaint there of not tumbling ; but 

 as the birds are mostly of- the feathered-legged kind, that is 

 another matter. But the clean-legged Tumblers of " Wiltshire 

 Rector's " taste are not to be found much away from London, 

 and here, as he truly says, not one in ten tumbles. 



There are several reasons why the homing birds are gaining 

 such an ascendancy ; the first, no doubt, is the encouragement 

 which has been recently given to them by shows, races, &c. ; then 

 there is, amongst the smaller fanciers, the charm of a little quiet 

 gambling between themselves ; also the ease with which they 

 can be got to fly well at home, as, if they are of any good, they 

 have only to be turned out and they will fly iu all weathers. In 

 addition, and probably as important as either reason, is the 

 susceptibility of this southern portion of London to fogs ; if 

 there is one anywhere it is sure to settle here, and everyone who 

 has kept Tumblers knows that they will generally refuse to fly 

 at all in such a state of the air. 



In contrast to the ease with which the homing kind of Pigeons 

 can be got to fly well, is the difficulty and often disappointment 

 experienced in training Tumblers and keeping them well upt o 

 their work ; it is, therefore, no wonder that the one should almost 



