KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



63 



instance is another proof of the fidelity and attach- 

 ment of these creatures to their masters and pro- 

 perty." — I know, Mr. Editor, how readily you will 

 give insertion to this. If men were to take a 

 lesson now and then out of a dog's book, it would 

 do society no harm, — would it? — Louisa T. 



[You are right, Louisa. The dog is a noble 

 animal ; and repeatedly proves himself far supe- 

 rior to Man, — his master.] 



The Late Poultry Show at Birmingham. — 

 With reference to the weight of the prize birds at 

 Birmingham, or indeed anywhere, says Mr. J. 

 Baily, it must be borne in mind that size, and 

 consequently weight, are only valuable when allied 

 to the other points, that mark purity of breed and 

 stamp the value of a fowl. Thus, in Cochin 

 Chinas, the pen exhibited by Mr. Sturgeon, which 

 took the first prize, was exceedingly heavy ; but 

 tJiey were also symmetrical. The hens nearly 

 averaged eleven pounds each, and the cock sur- 

 passed them. If these had lacked feathering on 

 the leg, their size would not have secured the 

 prize. Again, these weights are exceptions to 

 the rule, and the owner of Cochin China cocks of 

 9^ or 10 lbs., and pullets of 8 or 8§- lbs., posses- 

 ses, so far as size is concerned, first-rate birds. 

 The Dorkings were very heavy, but they kick the 

 beam when put in the scale with the birds we 

 have just mentioned. The heaviest hen in the 

 show was the property of the Hon. and Rev. 

 Stephen Lawley; she weighed 8£ lbs. This 

 again is an exception. There were plenty of 

 cocks 8|> and pullets 7 and 7^ lbs. In all these 

 classes, it must be borne in mind, the birds ex- 

 hibited are the pickings of the United Kingdom. 

 Cocks 1\ lbs. and pullets 6^ lbs. are good birds, 

 and about the average of the stocks kept, where 

 they are carefully attended to, and of first-rate 

 strains. But if they weighed 12 lbs. each, and 

 were four-toed or black-legged, they would be dis- 

 qualified. The smallest bantams weighed from 

 12 to 16 oz. each. A bantam-cock should not 

 exceed 17 oz. nor a hen 14 oz. But here, again, 

 if one weighed but seven, sickle feathers in the 

 tail, or long hackle and saddle, or feathered legs, 

 or single comb, would disqualify a Sebright. 

 These are the breeds in which great or small 

 weights are most esteemed. But it will be seen 

 that, although important and essential when com- 

 bined with other properties, they are only acces- 

 sories to success. To hope for pre-eminence in 

 any breed, it is not enough to have good birds ; 

 the amateur must breed largely to give him oppor- 

 tunity for selection. It is said of Lord Rivers, 

 many years ago, that he was once asked how he 

 succeeded in having always first-rate grey-hounds ? 

 He answered, " I breed many, and hang many." 

 This was the secret of his success. The same 

 will be found in exhibiting fowls — successful com- 

 petitors breed largely and keep the best. When 

 it is wished to rear poultry, for competing in 

 classes where size is a desideratum, care should 

 be taken to feed the chickens from the first as well 

 as possible. A check at a fortnight old is never 

 recovered. The chicken may live, grow up, and 

 do well ; but it will never carry the prize from one 

 that has progressed uninterruptedly. This is true 

 of all the Gallinaceous tribes. The weights of 

 the turkeys were as follows : — Cocks 22|, 21 J, 19, 



and 19| lbs. each. The first and largest was 

 of the ordinary breed of Cambridgeshire The 

 others were copper and American. The hens 

 from 11 to 14 lbs. each The geese weighed 

 from 20 \ to lb\ lbs. The successful pens, 1 

 gander and 2 geese in each, weighed 58^, 52^, 

 and 50 lbs. Last year, 1851, the Rev. John 

 Robinson, of Widmerpool, sent a gander weigh- 

 ing 29 lbs. The best ducks averaged 5j lbs 

 each. — I quite agree with you Mr. Editor, about 

 Poultry. Say what you will, the Dorking, all 

 things considered, is " the " best of all known 

 fowls — both for eggs and the table. — A Wilson. 



Brutal Conduct to a Bony at Oxford. — No 

 doubt, Mr. Editor, you have read the account in 

 the newspapers, .of the recent horrible case heard 

 before the magistrates at Bumham, Bucks, with 

 reference to the monster named Prickett, who laid 

 a wager to drive his pony to London and back, 

 (120 miles) in twenty hours ! The details of his 

 cruelty are too sickening to be laid before your 

 readers, but the wretch deserves public exposure. 

 His name is Peickett, and he is the landlord of 

 the Btough, at Oxford. His " fine," as levied by 

 the tender-hearted magistrates, was 40s.. and the 

 costs 33s. ! — A Lover of Humanity, Henley- 

 on-Thames. 



[This fellow is a monster indeed ! But for the 

 " Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 

 Animals'' — how everybody hates this valuable 

 society ! he would have escaped altogether. As 

 for the " fine," — the magistrates, when they named 

 it, must have been dreaming ; if not, they must 

 have been iron-hearted. How any civilised men 

 could sit and hear what we have read in the 

 newspapers, and which we take it for granted 

 must be true — without shuddering, and adminis- 

 tering something like "'justice" to the criminal, 

 we know not. Perhaps they were fox-hunters ; 

 if so all is explained. " Birds of a feather, etc." 



Cochin China Fowls. — Although, Mr. Editor, I 

 agree with you, that no fowl can surpass the 

 Dorking for the table, nor the Hamburghs for 

 eggs, — yet let me put in a plea for the Cochins. 

 They unite both qualities. They lay well ; and 

 their eggs are of a good size. They commence 

 laying when about seven months old. The gait 

 of the pullet is not unlike that of the Dorking. 

 Mine are of a good form ; short on the leg, and 

 very full bodied. The cocks are longer on the 

 legs than the Dorkings ; and have a peculiar 

 gait. One of mine crows very clearly. It is 

 " lengthened sweetness long drawn out." The 

 Cochins weigh heavy. Cocks average lOlbs; and 

 pullets 8lbs when full grown. I find these birds 

 more hardy than any others. I did not lose one 

 chicken last season. I had one hatch of half-bred 

 birds, — a cross between the Cochin and Dorking. 

 These came off last October. The mother died in 

 a fortnight afterwards. However, the chickens 

 reared themselves, and are now A 1. It was 

 very pleasing to watch the little creatures huddle 

 together at night , in some hay I gave them ! I 

 have not yet tasted the flesh of the thorough 

 bred birds ; but those from the cross I speak of 

 are excellent fowl for the table. They weigh, 

 when six months old, from 6 to 7lbs per head. — 

 C. P., Boston, Lincolnshire. 



