410 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— September 2, 1856. 
Names of Plants (A Kentish Subscriber ).—It is Convolvulus 
alt/ueoides, or Silky-leaved Convolvulus. This is a curious plant, now 
but rarely seen, and should be planted in some quiet spot where it can 
remain permanently undisturbed, nor interfered with by any other plants. 
A narrow border, at the foot of a wall facing the south-east or west, suits 
it well where there is not room for any other plant. ( E. Johnston ).— 
Asplenium adianturn nigrum . 
THi P0ULTB V_ CHtt OWiClE, 
POULTRY SHOWS. 
Dorchester. Sept. 17th and 18th. Sec., G. J. Andrews, Esq., Dor¬ 
chester. Entries close Sept. 1st. 
Essex. At Colchester, 8 th, 9th, and 10th of January, 1857. Secs., 
C. E. Attvvood, and W. A. Warwick. 
Gloucestershire. Nov. 26 th and 27 th. Sec., E. Trinder, Esq., 
Cirencester. Entries close Nov. 1st. 
Leominster. Thursday, October 16. 
Nottinghamshire. At Southwell, December 17 th and 18th, 1856. 
Sec., Richard Hawksley, jun. Entries close November 19 th. 
Nottingham Central Poultry Association. January 14th 
and 15th, 1857. Sec., John Spencer, Nottingham. 
Sowerby Bridge. Sept. 5th. Sec., F. Dyson, Esq., Sowerby Bridge. 
Entries close August 29 th. 
N.B.— Secretaries vnll oblige us by sending early copies of their lists. 
ON THE COMPARATIVE ENTHUSIASM WITH 
WHICH THE DIFFERENT BREEDS ARE 
CULTIVATED. 
If the question had been put to me some time since, as 
to what particular variety of fowls had the most interest 
taken in it by the rearers, I should have most probably re¬ 
plied, either Cochins, or, perhaps, if asl?ed recently, Ham- 
burghs. 
How far I should have been right or wrong has been 
proved by a very simple circumstance. 
I have recently forwarded to every exhibitor in the king¬ 
dom, whose name and address were known, a printed and en¬ 
graved form to be filled up with a description of some one 
variety; this having been done with reference to the new 
edition of the “ Poultry Book.” 
The numbers that have been filled up and returned may, 
taken in UTe ML* e | arded « f mea f ue of * he iuterest 
There is one breed whicF, h Kc , this Btandard> 
has a greater hold on the sympathies of Englishmen than 
any other. Every possible variety 0 f it has been described 
and, in a very great number of instances, has application 
been made for additional forms, the numv, er that has been 
returned to me being as great as that of ,,// t / u , ol / ler 
varieties taken together. Let our readers ask tliem^.ivea, 
what is this breed that is thus admired by so many, and 
whose points are known to so large a number that I am 
literally overwhelmed with their descriptions. Is it the 
Dorking? No. That seems confined either to wealthy 
amateurs, or to the drier and warmer soils in the south-east 
angle of England. The Spanish, however great a favourite 
near town, is not elsewhere the popular fowl. Cochins, 
black, butt, white, and grey, have seen their palmiest 
days. Surely it must be Hamburghs, then ?—the Pheasants 
and Mooneys of the canny north - countrymen. True it 
is, that I have received a multiplicity of descriptions of these 
most useful and ornamental breeds from many of the most 
successful exhibitors. But, for one description of Ham¬ 
burghs, I have received at least five of Game , which has 
been described by all ranks; from the poor man, who has 
often given their characters in terms more pointed than 
polished, to the rich amateur who has bred evidently for 
the cock pit. It may, perhaps, surprise many of my readers 
to be informed that cock-fighting, though barred by law, is 
still very extensively practised in many parts of the country. 
I know now, even within a very short distauce of my own 
residence, several lots of Game fowls out at run, which are 
kept for fighting; and, on inquiry, can always hear of 
mains coming off, although they are more frequent in the 
northern and midland than in the southern districts. 
Judged by this standard, therefore, the Game, and not the 
Dorking, must be regarded as pre-eminently the English 
fowl; and I regard Mr. Furneaux as paying a high com¬ 
pliment to our Hibernian countrymen when he states, “ The 
Game cock is formed on the exact model of the high-bred 
Irish gentleman. With the least possible tinge of strut, the 
result of exuberant animal spirits, its deportment exhibits 
a happy combination of Celtic swagger, tempered with Saxon 
sobriety. 
In point of symmetry, carriage, and elegance it is not to 
bo surpassed. It may fairly he called the Apollo Belvidere 
of the poultry-yard. The Dorking and Shanghai may ex¬ 
hibit a more portly presence ; the Polish and Spanish may 
be more unique in their peculiarities; the Malay may ex¬ 
ceed him in Paul-like stature; the Hamburgh excel in 
variety of plumage; and the Bantam out-Herod him in 
consequential importance; hut, nevertheless, he everywhere 
predominates as “cock of the walk," where he moves “every 
inch a king. No tyrant is he in the bad sense of the word; 
for though he moves arbitrarily, he is no bully, but rather 
the setter down of those who misuse their power. Before 
him .the Turkey Cock and Gander conduct themselves with 
sauvity, and even the worrying Muscovy Drake forgets to 
tease.” 
After reading this vivid extract from the “ Pentelogue,” 
my own plain matter-of-fact statement will fall wearily on 
the ear; and I therefore at once conclude, remembering 
that 
“ After a well-graced actor leaves the stage, 
The eyes of all are idly turned on him who enters uext, 
Thinking his prattle to be tedious,” * * * 
W. B. Teuetmeieb. 
THE RUNTS. 
COLUMBA DOMESTICA GIGANTEA. 
French. 
Pigeons Bo biains. 
A Runt, in the common phraseology of Pigeon-fanciers, 
means nothing more than a common mongrel; hut the 
Runts of which we are about to speak are held in much 
greater esteem ; they are the largest of our domestic Pigeons 
indeed, the giants of the race. They are found mostly on 
the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, though, perhaps; more 
abundantly in Italy. 
Aldrovandi, in liis Ornithology, divides them into clean- 
footed and feather-tooted, and calls them Trontos and Asbur- 
nellatos. He says there is a difference in the length of the 
beak; but he considers the colour of the plumage of no 
account. 
The Germans have several varieties of the large house 
Pigeons, or Runts, among which Die Hinkel Tanbe, called 
also Florentine.' or Fiemonteser, is worthy of notice. They 
are as large as a small hen; they are smooth headed, short 
necked, stout bodied, long legged, and have a short tail, 
German. 
Die GtioszE Haustaube. 
