CHAPTER XXXIII. 



THE ESSENCE OF HUMBUG. 



During this and the previous years, some of the older 

 fanciers and breeders had resorted to the most fdlsome and 

 nonsensical style of advertisements, to push o£f their stock 

 upon the unguarded. No quality of superlative goodness, 

 known or unknown, that could be described in the English 

 language (either by means of " communications " through 

 the public prints, or by ordinary forms of advertising), /was 

 omitted to be proclaimed by the owners of fiincy stock, in 

 order to force off upon the credulous or the uninitiated 

 their " newly-imported " stuff, and its progeny. 



High-sounding but most ridiculous titles were given, by 

 the nominal " importers," to their live stock ; and the pub- 

 lic were asked to purchase "Hong-Kong" fowls, "Ben- 

 gal Eagle" chickens, "Wild Indian Mountain" hens, 

 " Whang-tongs/' " Quittaquongs," "Hoang-Hos," "Pad- 

 uas," etc.; a,nd the following advertisement appeared, 

 finally, to cap the climax of this inexpressibly stupid non- 



