162 THE POULTRY BOOK. 
POINTS. MARKS OF FEATHERS, ETC., CONSIDERED BEST. 
best green-black moons, and the clearest and best 
red from the moon to the bottom colour. — 3rd, 
Flight. Tlie clearest and best red. — 4tli, The 
Lacing, or top of the icing, above the flight. 
Largest, clearest, brightest, and best green-black 
spots on the end of the feathers, and the best and 
clearest red from the spot to the bottom colour. 
8th.— Tail • » . The brightest, darkest, and best green-black. To 
be full-feathered. 
9th. — Legs . . . Best and clearest blue. 
10th. — General appearance The best feathered hen. 
The black pheasants were also exhibited, and the following shows the points by 
which they were judged. 
TABLE OF POINTS IN THE BLACK-PHEASANT FOWL HENS. 
1st. — C omb 
2nd. — Ears 
3rd. — Colour . 
4th. — L egs 
5th. — G eneral appearance 
Best double; best square; most erect; and best 
piked behind. 
Largest and purest white. 
The best and richest glossed green-black. 
Best and clearest blue. 
Best feathered hen. 
Spangled Hamburghs are usually regarded as birds exceedingly impatient of con- 
finement, and requiring a large and extensive grass-run : they fly, as has been 
justly remarked, like pheasants, and knovr not bounds. The following communi- 
cation from the Rev. A, G. Brooke, formerly a very successful exhibitor of Silver 
Spangles, will therefore be read with interest, proving, as it does, the possibility 
of keeping these active and roaming birds in perfect health and brilliant plumage 
in very close confinement. Mr. Brooke states : — My silver- spangled birds I 
always keep confined in places about twelve feet long and six feet wide, exclusive 
of the sleeping apartments, which are well ventilated, and have the floors eithei 
of asphalt, brick, or wood, raised a foot from the ground, and freshly sanded every 
morning. Their runs are also freshly sanded or gravelled once a week, and every 
morning swept clean, and then turned over with a spade, which prevents the ground 
becoming tainted. The fowls are not at all impatient of confinement, but appear 
very happy and comfortable, and thrive remarkably well. I never keep more than 
three birds in one yard — namely, a cock and two hens, — as I have always found 
the fewer, when confined, the better. I am very particular that their water pans 
should be kept particularly clean, and as regards their food, I vary it as much 
as possible, always taking care that they have some sort of food by them. In the 
morning I generally give them mashed potatoes or middlings and barley-meal ; and 
