Qualities of Hamburghs . 
365 
approaching a spangled character. Perhaps, indeed, the evidence of these facts is about as strong 
as could be possibly anticipated at such a late date in favour of this view, if we consider the utter 
want of interest in poultry, and consequent absence of observations at any distance back ; and the 
same reasons make it exceedingly difficult even to conjecture what the common progenitor — if 
there was one— may have been. Bearing in mind, however, that old Aldrovandus calls a fowl 
which bears a very plain general resemblance to the Silver-Pencilled breed Gallina Turcica , or the 
Turkish Fowl, it is rather interesting to notice how this very name alone suggests an Eastern and 
therefore probably more ancient origin than either the Dutch or English we have been considering; 
and it may be that here we have either the parent or a near descendant from the parent stock 
of each. These are, however, mere speculations ; they may be legitimate, or they may not, and we 
mention them chiefly as another instance of the fascinating problems that constantly present 
themselves for solution to the poultry-fancier of a philosophic or inquiring turn of mind. 
In proceeding to the consideration of the different varieties of Hamburghs, we have the greatest 
pleasure in being able to give the views and experience of Mr. Henry Beldon, who when living at 
Goitstock, Bingley, Yorkshire, was never approached in his general and continuous success as an 
exhibitor of the Hamburgh varieties. It has long been known that the rules of breeding followed 
by him and others at the present day differed considerably from those formerly pursued and re- 
commended by fanciers of good standing ; but no account of the present methods was ever pub- 
lished before those written by him for this work. All breeders will therefore feel indebted to him 
for them ; while naturalists will feel interested in the light thrown upon various questions by the 
amalgamation of races which only a very few years back were pronounced by high authorities 
incapable of such real union, though crossed as separate varieties for the production of show birds. 
“Hamburghs,” says Mr. Beldon, “are without doubt the most beautiful breed of poultry we 
possess, as well as one of the most useful. In their different varieties they give plenty of scope to 
the fancier to indulge his tastes ; but whether he choose Pencilled or Spangled, Gold, Silver, or 
Black, all are without doubt elegant and beautiful. The dweller in the country will generally 
prefer the Silver, while the citizen will take the Golden or the Black ; but all of them, in their 
matchless variety of marking and colour, will delight the eye with the utmost degree which is 
perhaps possible of beauty in fowls. 
“ Hamburghs, however, require free range. They are of little or no use penned up, in which 
state they pine and mope for liberty, that bright cheerfulness which is common to them disappears, 
and from being the happiest they become the most wretched of birds. If your convenience will 
not allow you to give them a grass-run of moderate size, my advice is to keep some other kind ; 
but if you have a good run no class of poultry will pay so well. They are small eaters and 
wonderful egg-producers, a single hen laying in a twelvemonth, under favourable circumstances, from 
200 to 220 eggs. They are also capital foragers, and when in health will always be seen at work, 
especially in the early morning, rummaging the pastures. Their quick eye at once espies their prey, 
and woe to the poor worm that happens on that particular morning to have got up a little too early; 
its early hours are suddenly put a stop to, and in this case the early riser finds it is not always well to 
be up too soon. Another good quality is that they are generally non-sitters, and there is not so much 
trouble with tnem as with the sitting varieties, though there are exceptions to the rule. I know that 
some people look upon any Hamburgh sitting as an evidence of taint in the blood, but I am quite sure 
this is an erroneous notion ; for the best Silver-spangled hen I ever possessed (in fact, the very same 
bird Mr. Teebay mentions in another work as one of the best he ever saw, and as moulting without 
change up to seven years old), without doubt the most successful winner of cups and prizes during 
the present generation, wished to sit. In this case, however, the fit only came upon her in old age, 
