Qualities of the Redcap. 3^ 1 
from having noticed any deterioration in their laying powers, am quite certain that my birds 
now are far better layers than the stock I possessed at the commencement. 
“ The chickens are hardy, easy to rear, and feather fast. With a good grass run, and 
plenty of good sound grain twice a day, they come on very fast, and scarcely ever ail any- 
thing. My birds are reared on very cold exposed runs ; and some generally roost in a 
plantation all through the winter, just like pheasants. As a rule, pullets are not very precocious, 
and do not usually commence to lay before they are seven or eight months old. Those 
hatched in March and early in April, if well fed, will lay in October and November, but 
if hatched from May to July, will generally begin in February. 
“ The general improvement in the Redcap has been frequently noticed in reports of shows 
held during the past two or three years. A show was lately reported of as follows : — ‘ The 
winning cock is especially good in comb and shape, and the first prize hen is as good in 
spangling as a Flamburgh ; the classes were both very fine, and the breed is certainly improving.’ 
“ It is a pity the breed is not more encouraged by show committees, and I could never 
make out why it is not, as a class is almost invariably well filled, and constitutes one of the 
principal attractions of the show.” 
Information from other sources has brought to light other curious synonyms for this breed 
besides those mentioned above. They have been known as “ Manchester, ” and also as “Poland 
Pheasants.” We have been informed that many who kept them in old days were so jealous of 
their egg-laying capacities becoming known, that they pricked the eggs sold, lest purchasers should 
obtain any of the stock so highly valued. We have traced this practice to several quarters, and 
the remarkable jealousy thus displayed is worth recording, as it easily accounts for the otherwise 
strange fact, that over and over again Redcaps have disappeared from districts where they were 
once kept. But wherever the fowl was known it was highly valued. Quite lately one farmer has 
reported a cross between a Redcap and a Partridge Cochin as a fine table fowl— “ the best he had 
seen in his life and the same farmer averred that one hen he had, now in her eighth year, has 
laid more eggs during the last twelve months than at any previous period. This testimony 
amply confirms that borne by Mr. Wragg to the capacity of the breed for laying on late in life , in 
which respect we believe no other breed is known to equal it. No doubt the somewhat late com- 
mencement has a great deal to do with this continuance of laying powers. 
Perhaps the points chiefly to be questioned are concerning that very “ improvement ” men- 
tioned in the above sentences from a poultry journal. Undoubtedly the Redcap can be bred up to 
a beautiful spangling, and a neat straight comb, and the process has been carried already to a 
certain point, while judges are evidently awarding prizes very much for such points. But the 
question arises, What will the Redcap be when the process is finished ? Will it be the hardy fowl 
and magnificent layer which was known before ? We very gravely doubt it. The breed does not 
seem to have suffered yet, but the process has gone on only a very few years : it will be different 
when in-breeding and selection for exhibition points have done their work for another ten years, 
and the fowl has become to all intents and purposes a large Golden-spangled Hamburgh. A large 
comb, in particular, seems to have some connection with laying properties; and we may be allowed 
to express an earnest wish that a most valuable fowl may not be spoilt by insisting in the show- 
pen upon qualities which do not belong to it. 
No Club being yet formed, no standard has been adopted for the Redcap fowl ; but our own 
-trong opinion is that symmetry, size of body, and size of comb, ought to be the chief points, if the 
useful qualities of the breed are to be kept up. 
