Redcaps. 
377 
In both varieties hens only were shown, the cocks being so inferior in appearance as to be only 
valued for breeding. The spangling was really marvellous in its gloss, as we can testify from 
feathers kindly sent us by Mr. Nathan Marlor, the breeder referred to by Mr. Beldon, and who 
also states that the corrections within brackets bearing his initials should be made in the scale 
as given by the “ Poultry Book” to make it accord with the views of the best old village breeders. 
The tendency to which we adverted at the commencement of this chapter towards a white 
or red tip beyond the moon, thus showing a distinct approach to pencilling in character, will not 
fail to be noted as clearly pointed out by these old rules. Golden Mooney hens as they become 
aged not unfrequently show this slight white tip on the ends of their feathers beyond the moons. 
Occasionally the tip is bay ; but in neither case is such necessarily an indication of impure blood. 
A laced character, on the contrary, especially on the wing-bars, shows not only too much Pheasant 
blood, but that it has not been properly amalgamated — in fact, that birds showing it, if adult 
(chickens of very good quality sometimes do show a little lacing, but afterwards moult out 
correctly) are in reality badly-bred birds, and have not been produced with the care which should 
have been observed, as described by Mr. Beldon. The amalgamation is still going on, having made 
perceptible progress during late years ; and so far as can be foreseen, in a very few more we may 
expect to see a thoroughly established and improved strain, which shall breed both cockerels and 
pullets alike with all the points desired, though no doubt to the very end certain families will 
produce better of one sex than the other, as is generally the case with every other breed. Even 
this, however, is in the hands of fanciers ; just as we have made already a large approximation 
towards amalgamating the black breast now demanded for Dark Brahma cocks with the necessary 
pullet-breeding qualities in which that kind of cock was formerly deficient, and which therefore 
were and are often still sought in speckled-breasted birds. 
With the exception of the tail-feathers, which in Golden-spangled birds are black, and the 
hackles, which are striped, the plumage is so similar to the Silvers that representations of the 
feathers need not be repeated. 
The Yorkshire Golden Pheasant fowl* is now we believe nearly extinct, and even the Mooney 
hens are not nearly so often shown pure-bred as formerly, the somewhat lighter colour of what we 
may call the new or amalgamated strain being preferred. The showing of both has given rise to 
some controversy at times between the advocates of what have been called the red and the golden 
ground-colour. We think the truth lies entirely on neither side. Under cover, or the conditions of 
the show-pen, there can be no doubt of the superior effect of the lighter tint, which was deliberately 
sought by the best breeders for this very reason ; but out of doors, especially in the sun, these 
birds are not in our opinion to be compared with the true-bred Mooney in point of feather, though 
the smarter heads and white ear-lobes give a great superiority in those respects. 
REDCAPS.— Nearly all the older works on poultry describe among the Hamburghs a breed 
called the Redcap, for which, years ago, there was a special class at the Sheffield shows. They 
appeared to be a kind of mongrel Golden-spangled, larger in size, and with immensely large rose- 
combs, often hanging over at the sides. They were reputed to be hardy fowls and good layers. 
The late Mr. Hewitt entertained the very highest opinion of them as “general utility” fowls, as the 
following interesting notes, furnished by him to the first edition of this work, will show : “ Of the 
* It will of course be understood that the Yorkshire Pheasant breeds so frequently referred to have no connection with the 
pheasant itself, but that the term is merely a local name. Hybrids between the pheasant and fowl are common enou-h, but like 
other hybrids, are almost always sterile, and quite incapable of founding a breed. The name was evidently given' from the 
similarity of marking of the breeds in question to those of the pheasants. 
