THE POULTRY BOOK. 
155 
of Spangled Hamburghs, frona the pen of the very highest authority on the subject, 
Mr. Richard Teebay, of Fullwood, Preston, and, by his kindness, we are enabled 
to illustrate it by original drawings of the feathers of all the different varieties. 
The fowls included under the name of Golden-spangled Hamburghs are of two 
very distinct breeds. One variety has been bred and exhibited for a long series 
of years by the colliers, hand-loom weavers, and others in Lancashire. These 
men have long had their clubs and held their annual exhibitions, prizes being 
offered for pairs of hens and pairs of pullets, as well as for single hens and single 
pullets. These prizes were awarded in accordance with rules and points very 
similar to those laid down in the ‘ Standard of Excellence’ issued by the Poultry 
Club. The local name of this variety is that of Golden Mooneys, from the rich 
iridescent green-black spangles, on the end of the feathers, the ground-colour being 
a beautiful clear golden bay. 
“ The other variety was formerly bred in Yorkshire, the fowls being known by the 
local name of Golden Pheasants, from the similarity of their markings to those on 
the breast of the cock pheasant. 
“ Golden Mooneys, which I will first describe, are rather small birds, with neat 
heads, tight rose combs, small deaf-ears which are not pendant but quite close to 
the face, and which are very seldom pure white. The plumage of the mooney hens 
is exceedingly close and glossy, the ground-colour being a rich clear golden bay, 
each of the body feathers having a large round rich green-black moon or spangle 
on the end (Fig. 1) ; the neck should be striped with rich green-black ; the tail 
feathers black ; the forepart of the breast of the cock is often rich green-black, but 
lower down and on the sides the ground is beautifully clear golden bay, with very 
large distinct round rich moons, without the least mossing or lacing. 
The spangles on the true Golden Mooneys are large, round, very black, with 
beautiful gi*een reflections ; but they have often the fault of showing a little white 
on the end of the feather beyond the moon. 
‘‘ Golden-pheasant fowls are heavier birds than the Golden Mooneys, with larger 
and looser rose combs, and large pendant deaf-ears, which are generally pure 
white ; their plumage is not so close and glossy as that of the mooneys. The bay 
ground-colour is often slightly mossed with brown ; the black spangles on the end 
of the body feathers are crescentic (Fig. 2), and not circular ; the neck is striped with 
black ; tail feathers black ; on the breast of the cock the black spots on the ends of the 
feathers generally run up the edges, somewhat like a bad, ill-defined lacing, and 
give the breast a very streaky appearance. The Yorkshire Golden-pheasant hens 
are seldom seen at shows, but they are better layers, hardier fowls, and much easier 
to rear than the true Golden Mooneys. 
Golden-mooney hens are very seldom seen exhibited with true-bred mooney 
cocks, as the latter are small, and it is rarely they have the whole surface of the 
deaf-ears white in colour ; and as a little red on the margin of the deaf-ear appears 
to be looked upon as a disqualification by some judges, however good the bird may 
be in other respects (this has been particularly noticeable at one of our largest 
