THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 22. 
worthless character and doubtful pedigrees, the refuse of 
yards, and the rejected of all who are conversant with the 
race, are thus repeatedly foisted and palmed off on those 
who are willing to believe in such announcements, without 
personal experience of the subjects on which their money is 
to be expended. There may, indeed, be other reasons, for 
stating which space is now wanting, that have contributed to 
this result, but not the least is that to which we have now 
alluded. Shanghaes we believe to be a highly valuable 
fowl for many purposes, but when they were unduly puffed 
for the purpose of speculation, and represented as combin¬ 
ing in themselves the merits of att the other races, they 
were unfairly treated, and their just position improperly 
depreciated. 
The first prize we have said was here withheld ; the second 
and third were respectively assigned to Messrs. Peters, of 
Mosely, and Steggall, of Weymouth. Mr. Cattell had some 
large birds in pen 480, but the cock was all but unfeathered 
on the legs. 
There were several good pens of Buff chickens; those of 
Lord Berwick, that took the first prize, Mr. Harrison’s, 
and Mr. Fairlie’s, presenting many features of high ex¬ 
cellence. Mr. Punchard took a fourth prize, and had also 
a highly commended pen. 
In class 11, for Brown and Partridge-coloured old 
birds, Mr. Punchard was victorious ; Mr. Fairlie being 
second. We regret to notice, in many pens exhibited in 
this and the following class for chickens, that colour has 
been neglected, far too large a portion of buff being allowed 
to present itself to the injury of the rich pencilling of the 
proper plumage. 
White Shanghaes bad many pens presenting that most 
undesired feature of olive and green legs; but the prize 
pens, of which that belonging to Mr. Hewitt, of Eden 
Cottage, near Birmingham, came first, were free from this 
defect, and well-shaped, handsome birds. 
The Black Shanghaes did not rise above the standard of 
last year’; few only of the cocks being free from bronze or 
red markings. 
The prize pens of Malays, in both classes, were decidedly 
good; and although we believe the merits of this race to be 
superseded, in a great measure, by those of the Shanghae, 
it gives us pleasure to witness the retention of so distinct a 
family of fowls, with such regard to the purity of their blood 
as was evidenced by the winning pens. 
Upwards of 200 pens of Game Fowls presented one of the 
most striking features of this Great Exhibition; and cer¬ 
tainly, taken as a class, they were second to no other. The 
Pile birds, in pen 1011,,belonging to Mr. H. Feltkam, of 
Tamwortb, were amongst the most perfect specimens of 
their race. The feather of the cock was of really dazzling 
effect, the back and wing being rich brown-red, with hackle 
and saddle of the brightest chesnut. The Black-breasted 
reds, again, in pen 1084, belonging to Mr. Henry Lowe, of 
Comberford Lodge, near Tamworth, could hardly be sur¬ 
passed, either as regards the strength and symmetry of 
their form, or the brilliancy of their colouring. The Blacks 
and Brassy-winged did not strike us as equal to the other 
classes; but the Greys and Duckwings call for our highest 
award of praise. 
We must confess to a feeling of disappointment on 
reaching the Pencilled Hamburghs, both Gold and Silver, 
few pens being free from grave blemishes; hardly, for in¬ 
stance, should we have deemed it necessary to remind exhi¬ 
bitors that five toes are not a recommendation in these fowls. 
The Spangled Hamburghs, however, in botli varieties, 
redeemed the character of their family, and contained many 
pens of very high pretensions. Mix Adkins, to whom the 
first prize was awarded, showed a really spangled cock, a 
fitting companion to hens of great beauty. But here let a 
word be said on a point suggested by this and some other 
pens. The dark Streaky-breasted cocks with red hackle, too 
often shown -with spangled hens, are deservedly censured and 
objected to; but let us be careful for the retention of the 
beautiful characteristic Hamburgh tail while we aim at a 
spangled male bird. The more perfect the birds in the 
spangle, the nearer the approach to the henny tail of the 
Sebright bantam in both the Gold and Silver Hamburghs, 
among the latter of which were numbered many pens of great 
excellence. 
227 
The 1st. prize Blacle Polish cock was one of the best crested 
birds we ever remember to have seen ; and when we say the 
hens were of proportionate merit, the position of the pen on 
the prize list will be accounted for. 
Both the Golden and Silver Polands were admirably 
represented; the first prize chickens of the latter having 
every feather of their very symmetrical top-knots perfectly 
laced. 
In class 42, for the Miscellaneous Fowls, there were 
numerous entries, including several pens of Brahma Poolras, 
but a second prize only was awarded to them, and this fell 
to Mr. Fairlie, whose pea-combed cock was shown with 
single-combed hens. We must again repeat our firm con 
viction, that nothing has been as yet elicited to warrant the 
belief of these birds proving a distinct breed. All that we 
can learn shall he carefully recorded, but we greatly err if 
in any respect they will be found to surpass good Shanghae 
specimens. In crossing with large Dorking hens, a source 
to which many so-called Brahma Pootras may, with great 
probability, be assigned, a large fleshy bird will doubtless 
be produced, with good development of the breast for 
culinary purposes. But we will not now anticipate the 
revelations of another season in respect of these novelties, 
be our surmises favourable or adverse. The pair of Brahma 
Pootras shown by Mr. Baily, of Mount Street, were of great 
size ; the cock, we were assured, had reached the enormous 
weight of lf>§ lbs. Besides these, we have had Polands, 
Bearded, Black, White, Dun with white top-knots, Chamois 
or Pale Buff, White with dark-laced hackle and top-knots, 
but yet far removed from the desideratum of White with 
Black crests; there were also some Mottled birds of ex¬ 
tremely good shape and pretty feather. 
Ptarmigans were present, but unnoticed. Andalusians had 
first and second prizes. Black Hamburghs, here termed 
“Moss Pheasants," were, also rewarded; and among the 
Rumjiless was a Black cock, the best of his kind we ever 
saw. The Frizzled, belonging to Miss Vivian, of Singleton, 
near Swansea, were shown in admirable condition. 
Gold and Silver-laced Bantams were meritorious; some of 
the many white good ; but tbe black mustered very strongly, 
and deserved great praise, being reported by the Judges as 
“ the whole class excellent.” In the miscellaneous Bantam 
class there were curious specimens of “ frizzled,” “ mottled,” 
“tufted," “booted,” and the “game.” 
Geese were both numerous and good—the first and 
second prizes being both given to Mrs. Hill for cross-bred 
birds of the Irish and Toulouse varieties ; the weight of the 
first pen being 571bs. 
Better Aylesbury Ducks than those belonging to Lord 
John Scott we should conceive it difficult to produce. The 
Rouen were fair, as also the Fast Indian. 
For Turkeys, Mr Fairlie won second and third prizes in 
the senior, and 1st. and :ird. in the junior class. The weight 
of Mr. Harrison’s, who took the first old prize, were 551bs. 
Two hundred and eighty pens of Pigeons were exhibited, 
containing many good specimens, among the best of which 
were some Carriers, Almond Tumblers, Fantails, Archangels, 
and Jacobins. Some “Porcelain,” and “ Scagliola,” Pigeons 
were among the most striking novelties in this class. 
The arrangements for the show were admirably con¬ 
ducted ; and we are glad to learn that it is in contemplation to 
present a testimonial to Mr. T. B. Wright, in acknowledgment 
of the continued exertions of that gentleman on behalf of 
this Society. The prize list concludes with the names of 
the following gentlemen, who officiated as the Poultry 
Judges on this occasion :— 
The Rev. William Wriothesley Wingfield, Gulval Vicarage, 
Penzance; George James Andrews, Esq., Dorchester; Mr. 
John Baily, Mount Street, Grosvenor Square ; the Rev. 
Robert Pulleine, the Rectory, Kirby Wiske, near Thirsk; 
William Symonds, Esq., Rodwell House, Weymouth; Mr. 
Thomas Challener, Burnt Leys, Whitwell, near Worksop. 
Tho attendance was great beyond all former precedent. 
The number of visitors, on the first day, paying 6s. each, 
exclusive of subscribers, amounted to nearly 2000; and on 
the second day there were more than 10,000 who paid Is. 
each for admission. Down to the evening of that day about 
.£1400 worth of poultry had been sold. 
We must observe, that the important and arduous office 
of superintending the feeding of the birds was entrusted to 
