The Illustrated Book of Poultry. 
162 
all consist of meal dough, corn being, as we have said before, quite unfit for birds going a journey. 
Packing will then proceed as quickly as possible, the most convenient means of fastening down the 
hamper covers being either a long packing-needle and good string, or straight pieces of annealed soft 
iron or copper wire, about ten inches long, which are easily passed through basket and cover, and 
then fastened by twisting the ends together. 
Poultry-men are always anxious to get away with their birds the same night the show closes. 
This is often very unnecessarily objected to by committees, as a little management will generally 
allow of it without either danger or difficulty, while too elaborate a “system” will make it 
impossible. A cheque-book should be prepared, as simple as possible, something like the 
following : — 
Ho. 23. Jan. 22, 1872. 
Mr. 
Address, 
Pens, 
No. 23. 
Allow Bearer to pass with Pens No 
Jan. 22, 1872. 
(Signed) 
Secretary. 
Then supposing the show closes at nine o’clock ; from eight to nine those wishing to leave 
should obtain their forms duly filled up and signed. Sales rarely take place so late, and the 
counterfoil will enable any that may be effected to be “ stopped” at the door. The catalogue will 
have at the end an index of all names, with list of all the pens entered by each exhibitor ; and by 
referring to the sales catalogue to see if any of these have been sold, and adding at pleasure any 
pens bought (many secretaries insist on sending all “ sold” pens by rail), each form is quickly com- 
pleted. Then the first half-hour or hour may be devoted to getting these orders packed in regular 
rotation by the packers, and afterwards handed to the owner’s representative ; the packer calling out 
the number of the pass, when the man to whom it belongs will claim it and his hampers, and no 
other baskets being sent out of the hall till all the men who mean to take their birds with them 
have been dismissed. The door-keeper will see that no man takes out more than the pens on his 
order, and in this way all necessary objects are accomplished with little trouble to any one concerned. 
To allow any persons to pack their own birds, however, is not wise ; as several instances have 
been known to occur of individuals packing birds not their own, the most distant risk of which 
should be avoided. 
The remaining birds will then be packed and dispatched as speedily as possible, any which 
may unfortunately die during exhibition being returned for the inspection and satisfaction of 
the owners. Care and method are again needed to avoid mistakes, which are a disgrace and future 
injury to any exhibition where they occur. Should death or loss occur through proved neglect 
of a railway company, recent decisions have established that the company is liable, notwithstanding 
any printed announcement that they decline such responsibility, unless the sender has signed a 
document exempting them from such liability. For instance, so lately as July, 1872, a Mr. Yardley 
sued the London and North-Western Railway Company for £\o, the catalogue value of a pair 
of pigeons lost on their line. The Company pleaded that by a printed regulation they declined 
responsibility beyond a few shillings value, unless such value were declared and insurance paid 
