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The Illustrated Bools of Poultry. 
JUDGING HAMBURGHS. — The points to which a judge has to give attention in judging 
Hamburghs maybe ranged into four great divisions, viz., i, Marking; 2, Combs; 3, Ear-lobes; 
4, Symmetry. All of these are important ; and symmetry in particular should by no means be 
overlooked, since it is one of the chief beauties of all the Hamburgh breeds Tastes differ, and we 
know many who consider the Game the type of beauty as regards form ; but for our own part we 
must admit that a perfectly-shaped Hamburgh cock, particularly of the Pencilled breeds, is to our 
own eye far superior — indeed, a very ideal of beautiful contour. Of the other three divisions, all are 
more or less frequently made the subjects of deceptive practices, and in no breed does “trimming” 
require such lynx-eyed vigilance on the part of the judge. Ear-lobes are painted white ; combs are 
cut and otherwise maltreated ; false tails are fastened in ; and in the case of the Spangled breeds we 
have seen a pretty good basketful of feathers abstracted from one pen of prize birds, which were 
too heavily spangled, and needed “ thinning-out ” in order to show sufficient of the ground-colour 
between. This last fraud is very difficult of detection indeed, and, in fact, almost impossible of 
absolute proof ; and even the fastening in of false sickles cannot be detected in every case without 
manipulation such as a judge hardly feels justified in using, for fear of injuring the plumage of a 
really honest fowl. The Silver-pencilled cocks are most frequently subject to this latter fraud, a 
perfectly edged tail being by no means easy to produce, and not unfrequently, when it is, combined 
with a bad comb, with somewhat too dark body-colour, or other faults. When, therefore, an 
unusually fine pair of sickles are produced, whether on a good bird or a bad one, they are, by 
unscrupulous exhibitors, frequently transferred or preserved — as the case may be — “ for other uses.” 
The fraud is generally detected in the end, either by the fastening “ coming loose,” or a little want 
of freshness, or some other cause arousing the suspicion of the judge ; but we have known a man 
boast when thus discovered that the false tail “ had done pretty well after all, for he had won with 
it eleven times.” A very dark, glossy, sharply-edged tail, if found on a cock with very slight bars 
and little under-colour, or perhaps with no bars at all, should always excite suspicion ; and this is 
perhaps the only hint which can be given ; though if the sickles look dull and dead in colour while 
the rest of the plumage is brilliant and glossy, attentive curiosity may also be occasionally rewarded 
by unexpected discoveries. 
It is, however, in the combs that Hamburghs are subjected to the most extensive manipulation, 
and some of the practices which have actually been detected are of the most cruel nature. In one 
notorious case the judges took from a comb two large needles, which had been inserted longitudinally 
to keep it from falling over. These needles were so rusted in that they were removed with 
difficulty, and were only detected by the end of one protruding, so that the duration of the torture 
inflicted on the unfortunate bird cannot be known. Pins, temporarily inserted, have been found in 
plenty. A very common fault is a hollow or depression in the centre of the comb ; and this has been 
known to be treated by cutting a wedge-shaped piece out of the middle, and stitching the outside 
portions tightly up together till joined and healed. Stitches put in for one purpose or other are 
often found, and, we regret to add, are employed far oftener than found, being withdrawn just 
before sending the bird in — indeed, our impression is that it is to simple forgetfulness of this neces- 
sary precaution discovery is often due. It is to be regretted that combs merely carved have been 
for years admitted by the judges to pass with practical impunity. Very recently only have 
some judges appeared to view the matter differently ; but owing to energetic remonstrances on 
the part of the press, some recent cases have been visited with disqualification, and it may be 
hoped that comb-cutting will be in future discouraged, if not stopped. 
Owing to recent changes, combs have been allotted more points in judging in the following 
schedules, than in the earlier editions of this work. 
