Injury done with Impunity. 
at imposition made some years back of sticking on a Bantam’s tail with cobbler’s wax: but very 
recently was shown a Game cock, with one of the sickle-feathers so dextrously ‘ imped ’ on as to be 
only discoverable (even in a perfect light) after the closest scrutiny; although in perfect candour 
I was previously told cue of these feathers had been subjected to this treatment. In practised 
hands, it is really wonderful what can be done with the ‘ iinping-needle/ as it supersedes quick- 
drying varnish altogether. Several feathers from the wing of a trained falcon were as an 
illustration submitted to my inspection, that had been naturally ‘ moulted ’ after some months 
of actual hard wear during flight since they were ‘imped;' and yet the point of juncture even 
when handled remained as firm, and I had almost written as invisible, as when first replaced. 
As to trimmers and their suppression, my sympathy with half- measures is very slight, and I 
confidently suggest that rules should be either faithfully enforced, or expunged altogether from 
the printed regulations.” 
Being personally referred to in the foregoing paper, we may say that we perfectly remember 
the case mentioned by Mr. Hewitt, and making the remark stated by him in the course of a 
lengthy and veiy detailed report of the show in question, undertaken by us at the special request 
of the editors of the leading English poultry journal. We may add that at a later period — 
unfortunately too late for any correction — we were convinced beyond question by another of the 
judges who had officiated in that class of the gross fraud that had been perpetrated, which could not 
possibly have been discovered without actually withdrawing the birds for examination ; and we are 
justified in asking by what term should be designated the conduct of those who thus deliberately 
refused to protect the interests of honest exhibitors ? We have been amused at the persistence 
with which it has been attempted to get rid of this vital matter by urging the “ impossibility of 
detecting” every case. This is not the question — no man is responsible for not doing what cannot 
be done ! But when fraud has been detected — what then ? That is the point ; and committees 
and judges who wish to avoid the charge of complicity with swindling should study it. One 
of the committee of the show here referred to, in reply to private remonstrance from ourselves on 
the injury done to honest exhibitors by such wilful neglect of duty, made use of an argument 
which we have found curiously common in such cases; viz., that “as the guilty paity had taken 
no prize with the trimmed birds, no injury had arisen.” This is specious, but none the less false, 
as will be readily seen : for if duly punished, the fraudulent trimmer would probably be deterred 
from repeating his fraud, to the protection of the honest amateur , whereas by such disgi aceful 
impunity he is emboldened to renew his attempt on another occasion, when he may not be 
discovered as in this case ; and for the injury then done the committee which has neglected any 
deterrent measures cannot be held guiltless. 
Owing to the interest we have long taken in this question, we have been so often asked 
what practicable measures can be adopted, that we venture to frame a rule against the practice 
which can give no difficulty in working; which gives to the judge his proper responsibility, and 
to the committee theirs ; and which if carried out honestly would, as we have been assured by 
many known trimmers themselves , almost eradicate this evil. The last statement may astonish 
many, but it is simple fact! Several of the most frequent offenders in this way affirm that 
they are in a measure driven to it by the keen and unprincipled competition that prevails, 
and that if they could only be assured all would be sternly dealt with on discovery, no one 
would rejoice at the new state of things more than themselves. Being known, stiong as our 
opinions on this matter are, never to “ break confidence,” the number of private confessions thus 
poured into our ears has been astounding, and the social position of some thus compiomised few 
