THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. —May 27, 1656. 
102 
! 
ORIGIN OF THE NAMES OF SOME OF 
THE FANCY FOWLS. 
I have read with some interest the various observations 
which have lately appeared in your paper respecting the 
names of certain fowls, accusing them of being inapplicable, 
or having no connection with the previous history or habitat 
of the species to whicli they refer. I allude now more par¬ 
ticularly to Hamburghs and Polands. How the former 
became connected with Hamburgh, in any way, I cannot 
say, except it be a corruption of Humber, as I believe it to 
be, from these birds being largely kept and greatly prized 
on the banks of the Humber, in Yorkshire. But I conceive 
the Polands obtained their name, not from any supposed 
origin of the variety in that country, but from the peculiar 
tuft or crest of feathers adorning their heads, having a 
resemblance to that disease of the hair in the human 
species, which exists almost exclusively in Poland, and is 
known as the “ Plica Polouica,” in which the hair of the 
head is described by medical writers as “ either lengthening 
itself in the form of an excessively enlarged tail, or agglome¬ 
rated in the form of a great tuft or ball over the head and 
thus, 1 believe, the Polands obtained their appellation from 
their tufted crests. 
I would further remark, as regards Hamburghs, that what 
are now called Spangled Hamburghs were formerly known 
as Mooneys, from the full- moon spots with which their 
feathers are adorned; and some birds lately exhibited in 
this class, which have taken first prizes, should, I conceive, 
be called Xew Mooney, from the crescentic form of their marks, 
as opposed to the full round form originally giving the name. 
I have ventured to subjoin a curious code of articles, or 
rules, which were published as a guide for the exhibitions 
which took place in a Society of Fanciers at Hollins, near 
Oldham, formed in the year 1842, where the members com¬ 
peted for the following varieties :—“ Red Mooned Pheasant, 
Silver Pheasant, Black Pheasant, and Creel Poults.” (There 
are no rules for cock birds.) The first in order is the “ Red 
Mooned Pheasant Poult, described as below ; and should 
you think the remainder of any interest, I shall be happy to 
forward them for your next number. 
“ ARTICLES.—RED MOONED rHEASANT. 
“ Points .—Marks on feathers, and considered best. 
“ 1st. Comb. —-Best double, best square, the most erect, 
and best piked behind. 
“ 2 nd. Ears. —The largest, and best white. 
“ 3rd. Neck. —The best streaked with green-black in the 
middle of the feathers, and best fringed with gold at the 
edges. 
“ 4 th. Breast. —The largest moons, brightest and best 
green-black, most free from being tipped with white or red at 
the end of the moon, and the cleanest and best red from the 
moon to the bottom colour. 
“ 5 tk. Back. —The largest moons, brightest and best green- 
black, most free from being tipped with white or red at the 
edges of the moon, and the best and clearest rod from the 
moon to the bottom colour. , 
“ 6th. llump. —The largest moons, brightest and best 
green-black, least tipped with white or red at the edges of 
the moon, and the best and clearest red from the moon to 
the bottom colour. 
“ 7th, Wing, divided into four parts : First, Bow. —Best 
and brightest green-black, and best and clearest red. 
t! Second, Bars. —To have two distinct bars, composed of 
the largest, clearest, brightest, and best green-black moons, 
and the clearest and best red from the moon to the bottom 
colour. 
“ Third, Flight. —The clearest and best red. 
“ Fourth, The Lacing, or top of the Wing above the flight. 
—Largest, clearest, brightest, and best green-black spots on 
the end of the feather, and the best and clearest red from 
the spot to the bottom colour. 
“8 th. Tail. —The brightest, darkest, and best green black. 
To be full feathered. 
“ Oth. Legs. —Clearest and best blue. 
“ 10th. General Appearance. —The best feathered hen.” 
Such was the local standard set up at that time.— 
Amateur, Cheltenham. 
[We have to apologise for this not being inserted earlier, 
owing to its being mislaid.—E d. C. G.] 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Food for Chickens a Month old (R . B. T.).—These may be fed 
the same as the up-grown poultry. A mixture of pollard and barley- 
meal for moist food, barley and oats, with plenty of green food. 
Howdf.n Poultry Show. —We can assure A Subscriber that we have 
not been napping; but if secretaries neither advertise in our columns 
(thereby intimating it is merely a local Show), and if they do not send 
us even a local newspaper containing a report, we cannot be expected to 
notice such Shows ; much less to incur the expense of sending a reporter 
specially. 
Wire for dividing Poultry Yards (Farm Bailiff ).—You ask us 
which is best} and what height should it be? We answer, galvanized 
iron, two-inch meshed, and six feet high. Do not have a rail along the 
top, for the fowls see that, and t»-y to fly up to it. For Shanghaes, four 
feet would be high enough. 
Chickens dying without apparent cause (A. B .).—Are you 
breeding too closely ? We have traced very many instances similar to 
yours to the want of fresh blood in the yard. We object to coops closed 
in on all sides ; there is not a sufficient supply of fresh air. Do not 
bleed the Bantam whose comb has turned purplish-red, but give him 
one grain of calomel, and use soft food, repeating the dose in four days 
if no improvement.—W. 13. T. 
LONDON MARKETS.— May 2Gth. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
Supply good, and marked improvement to be noticed in consequence 
of the beneficial change of the weather; and home-grown produce being 
much more inquired after, we may expect the continental supplies to 
cease in another week or so. A fair sample of Cherries has been re¬ 
ceived with the Vegetables this week. From Cornwall and the Scilly 
Islands we are now getting a considerable supply of early Potatoes , 
which, however, do not move very fast. The trade for old ones is un¬ 
usually heavy, excepting very first-rate parcels, which are quoted a 
trifle higher. 
FRUIT. 
Apples, kitchen, per 
bushel. 6s. to 10s. 
,, dessert .... 
6s. 
10s. 
Pears, per dozen .... 
Is. 
3s. 
Peaches, per doz. 
21s. 
409 . 
Nectarines, do. 
21s. 
363 . 
Pine-apples, perlb... 
8s. 
12s. 
Foreign Grapes, per lb. 6s. 
12s. 
Hothouse ditto, ditto 
6s. 
15s. 
Strawberries, per oz.. 
(id. 
is. 
Foreign Melons, each 
39. 
6i, 
French Cherries, per lb. 3s. 
5s. 
Oranges, per 100 .... 
4s. 
1 0 s. 
Seville Oranges, do... 
6s. 
12s. 
Lemons. 
Cs. 
12s. 
Almonds, per lb. 
2s. 
— 
Nuts, Filberts, per 
100 lbs. 
50s. 
60s. 
,, Cobs, ditto .. 
60 s. 
70 s. 
,, Barcelona,per 
bushel. 
20s. 
22s. 
Nuts, Brazil, ditto.. 
12s. 
14s. 
Walnuts, per 1000 .. 
9s. 
12s. 
Chestnuts, per bushel 
15s. 
i) 
24s. 
VEGETABLES. 
Cabbages, perdoz. Is. to Is. 6d. 
,, Red, per doz. 2s. to 4s. 
Cauliflowers, per bdle. Is. ,, Os. 
Brocoli per bdle . 3d. ,, 6d. 
Savoys. Is. ,, 2s. 
Greens, per doz. bnch. 4s. ,, 6s. 
Spinach, per sieve .. — ,, 4s. 
French Peas, per bshl. 6s. ,, 10s. 
French Beans, per 100 ls.6d. ,, 0s. 
Carrots, per bunch .. yd. to Is. 
Parsnips, per doz. 6d. to 9d- 
Beet, per doz. Is. to Is. 6d. 
Potatoes, per cwt. .. 3s. to 6s. 
,, Frame, per lb Is. to Is.3d. 
,, New, ditto 3d. to Is. 
Onions, Young, per cwt. 4d.,, 6d. 
,, Old, per bushel 5s. ,, 7s. 
Turnips, per bunch.. Is. ,, 2s. 
Leeks, per bunch .... 2d. ,, 3d. 
Garlic, per lb. 6d. ,, fid. 
Horseradish, per 
bundle. Is.6d. to 2s. 6d. 
Shallots, per lb. Cd. ,, Is. 
Lettuce, Cos, each .... 6d. ,, fid. 
,, Cabbageper doz. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Endive, perscore .. Is. 6d. ,, 2s. 
Celery, per bunch.... 9d. to ls.Gd. 
Radishes, Turnip, per 
dozen bunches .... — to 6d. 
Water Cresses, ditto .. 6d. ,, 9d. 
Small Salad, per 
punnet. 2d.,, 3d. 
Artichokes, per lb. — ,, 2d. 
Asparagus, per 100 .... 3s. ,, 5s. 
Sea-kale,per punnet ls.6d. ,, 2s. 
Rhubarb, per bundle 3d. ,, 6d. 
Cucumbers, each .... 6d to ls.6d. 
Mushrooms,perpot Is. 6d. ,, 2s. 
HERBS. 
Basil, per bunch .... 4d.to 6d. 
Marjoram, per bunch 4d. ,, 6d. 
Fennel, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Savory, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Thyme, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Parsley, per bunch .. 2d. ,, 3d. 
Mint, per bunch .... 2d. ,, 4d. 
Green Mint . 6d. ,, fid. 
POULTRY. 
Fowls during the past week have made great prices, which the demand 
during these days will probably keep up. After this month we may look 
for a larger supply, and a fall in value. 
Large Fowls.. 9s. Od. to 10s. each. 
Smaller do .... 5s. 6d. to 6s. ,, 
Chickens.. 3s. od. to 4s. 6d ,, 
Goslings.6s. to 7s. 0d. ,, 
Ducklings 3s. 6d. to 4s. Od. ,, 
Guinea Fowl 0s-Od. to 0s. Od. ,, 
• Plover’s Eggs, in bulk... 
Quails.... 3s. Od. to 0s. 0d. each. 
Leverets.. 4s. Od, to 6s. Od. ,, 
Pigeons.9d. to lOd. ,, 
Rabbit.. .. Is. 5d. to Is. 6d. ,, 
Wild Ditto.. lOd. to 0s. 1 Id. ,, 
Dottrell .. 0s. Od. to 0s. od. ,, 
..... 3s. to 3s. 6d. 
London: Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published for the Proprietors 
at The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in 
the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—May 27, 1856. 
