188 
THE COTTAGE GAKHENER. 
Decembkr !). 
make and colour, the latter a rich bnfl', powdered, as it were, 
with orange, gold hackle, and singularly free from any dark 
feathering ; Iho pallets were equally meritorious as regarded 
plumage, no less tlian distinctness of form. 
I Another year we shall, doubtless, have to chronicle a 
more even class than were exhibited on this present occasion; 
birds will then bo better matched, and sent in higher con- 
I dition; but while we venture on this anticipation, let us at 
I the same time aeknowleilge sincere thanks to all those who 
I were willing to send birds to giwo t'chil to this first exhibition, 
and to encounter criticism rather than run the hazard of 
i empty pens. 
! In Class (i, a cock and two hens of Mr. I’unchard’s had 
! a first piriz.e; and, though alone in their class, it would 
j assuredly liavo been very dillicult to have seen adjoining 
pens equally well-lllled. >¥11110 prevailing taste, as we 
admit, induces us to regard with longing eyes the lighter- 
coloured varieties, wo frankly ailmit that the robust character, 
wellqiroportioiied figure, and delicate markings of such 
birds as occupied pen oh, will always have great attractions 
in our eyes. 
The class for Chickens of the Brown and Partridge was 
indifferent; and scvei'iil points, both as to figure and colour, 
should have due consideration before another year again 
sees the Market-house similarly occupied. The possession 
of five toes will not enable I,hem to perch more readily, or 
facilitate their movements on the ground. A good pair of 
white Shanghaes were shown, as single specimens, by Mr. 
Sayers; and a pen of Chickens of the race came from Mr. 
Chase, of Turwiek. Many of the Shangliaes, competing as 
single fowls, were exhibited in the Botunda; while the 
majority of this class occupied the large room on the left 
of the entrance; a position, during the wdiole day, so densely 
crowded, as clearly to indicate the greatest point of attrac¬ 
tion. The siiigle-comhcd Speckled Dorkings were present 
in great force and excellence. We concur, however, with the 
award that gave the first prize to Mr. .Tames Lewry; in 
whoso pen, colour, figure, ami substance, were also ad¬ 
mirably represented. Ijady M. Macdonald had good Idrds 
exhibited in this Class; and her Lailyship was also success¬ 
ful in Class I i), where rose-combed birds of tlie same race 
competed. Captain Hornby's Cockerels and Pullets in this 
class stood alone. Mrs. Mills’ White Dorkings w'ore shown 
in excellent condition; and, in shape and substance, loft 
little to bo desired; we could have wished, however, that the 
bill should have lieen quite free from any dark markings. 
'Their competitors were without blame in this respect, but 
yielded the palm in respect of figure and condition, in which 
the winners were pre-eminenlly distinguished. Game fowds 
occupied but two pens; of wdiich No. !)8 contained w'cll 
shaped birds; but we could not but regret the absence of 
other specimens of one of the most beautifid varieties of 
our domestic poultry. 
Golden Hamburghs, both Pencilled and Spangled, were 
absent from the list. Another year wo trust to see this 
omission supplied; for few members of the gallinaceous 
tribe will better reward our labours, where external appear¬ 
ance is mainly regarded. But brilliantly were the fortunes 
of the family retrieved by their first-cousins the Silvers, 
which, in both the Spangled and Pencilled varieties, were 
evidently anxious to atone for their relations’ absence. Mrs. 
Mills’ I’encilled and Mr. Chambers’ Spangled birds were 
almost safe from criticism, if such an assertion can ever be 
safely made. The second prize for the Spangled birds was 
assigned to the pen that took the first prize at Lewes in 
the present year. 
The Malays were but few in number, and, although good 
specimens were shown by Mr. Sayers, we cannot but hold to 
our opinion, that in all points they are at least equalled, if 
not exceeded, by their Oriental neighbom's, the Shanghae. 
Class (i'd presented throe very good pens of White Crested 
Polands—birds that deserved commendation no less for 
their general figure than for the great beauty of their tufts, 
which, especially in the winners, were perfectly globular and 
even. The prize for the best cock fell to the bird in the 
pen that took the second prize in Class (iii. The extreme 
regularity of his crest, and points of excellence in figure 
generally, justly gave him precedence, although the fair sox 
were better represented in the younger liirds. 
Were it not that we hope to see all classes satisfactorily 
represented when another year has passed over us, the 
Polish family should no longer occupy one pen ; but since 
the Winchester, in common with all other Societies, seeks 
lo inifrai’i', we may express our hope that the Golden and 
Silver-spangled I’oland, whether rufl'ed or otherwise, will 
then come before us in a more favourable light than that in 
which we can now venture to regard them. 
In Spanish, Captain Hornby met with his usual, but widl i 
deserved success; and many a claimant was at hand for the 
puridiase of these much-coveted favourites. 
Pigeons were few in number; but a pair of Capuchins and ' 
another of Carriers, belonging to Dr. Wesley, of Winclie.ster, j 
were justly distinguished. The Tumblei's were fine birds. j 
In Ducks, Lady M. Macdonald had a pen of Bast Indian i 
(the Labrador is as entirely a misnomer for these birds, as i 
the term Cochin-China is for Shanghae’s). A first pnze ; 
was awarded for this jien, there being no other competitors ; ; 
but we should wish to see a fuller disjday of tlie golden- i 
green metallic lustre on botli ducks and drake. 1 
The Aylesbury Ducks of Mr. Edwards, Captain Hornby, ! 
and Mr. Page, fully merited the Judge’s award. IMr, \ 
Eldwards’ other pen of older birds were probably passe<l over i 
on account of their stained bills, a change we were informed ' 
that was first perceived at their last moulting. Of Mr. 
Punchard’s Bouen Ducks, our commendation must be 1 
strongly expressed—they were excellent in every respect. i 
We cannot think that Hamiishire, or any of the southern 
counties were at all fitly represented by the Geese that came ' 
into competition on this occasion; and its farmers will do 
well to look to the Toulouse Goose, either jmre or crossed ; 
with our own breed, to give both size and ([uality. : 
Lady M. Macdonald was successful with her 'J’urkeys, of 
which some bronze-tinted birds carried off the first pirize; ' 
but this class also will admit of improvement. 
No. 1(18 contained a pair of Guinea Eowls in good 
plumage. , 
This ends the Catalogue of the First Winchester Show; ' 
and if in its subsequent jirogress it retains its claim to that 
public Bupqiort which has been so liberally, yet so justly ' 
awarded to its infancy, tho expectations of those who first 
suggested its establishment will be fully realized, and ampily 
rewarded. I 
The verdict of Birmingham Judges was at one time the 
sole authority to which English poultry-keepers had to 
direct their attention, but now, from Penzance to Yarmouth, 
and the most northern counties, an eagerness for informa¬ 
tion is being manifested in these matters, which can only bo 
accounted for on tho ground of such details being at length 
recognized as a pirotitalde branch of farm economy'. If 
jioultry exhibitions should pirovo the means of directing 
general public attention to this branch of the farmer’s 
revenue, while others are represented in so unsatisfactory a ; 
state, tho object of their promoters will be fully attained, j 
These Societies have directed their labom’s, in the first place, ' 
to what may prove protitablo to the farmer and cottager ; 
and, if in so doing, they can render service to any other i 
class, by gratifying individual taste or inclinations, they will i 
thus gain an additional motive for increased exertions. 'J'he ' 
multipdication of these Institutions will certainly have one 
beneficial effect, which we hopic, indeed, is already recog- ' 
nized; we allude to the comparison which the exhibitions of 
adjoining districts must inevitably suggest, and the consc- ; 
quent more definite classifications of those principles on 
which awards are to bo assigned. If the former fact may | 
possibly instigate more minute inquiries into the reasons 
and authority for such decisions, and thus add to official 
responsibility, the latter will fully atone for such judicious 
hazards, by the gradual substitution of a more generally 
recognized standard of e.xcellencc and merit. ' 
The Judge on the pirescnt occasion was the Bev. lY. Wing¬ 
field; and we never knew decisions more generally approved. 
We will conclude with a List of the Prizes ho awarded. 
Class 1 .—BANTAMS. 
5 First Prize—Cock and two Hens, golden-faced, .Ip months old, ^£'12 12s. 
Captain Hornby, U.N., Knowsley Cottage, Present, Lancashire. 
9. Cock and two Hens (partridge), one year old, —A. C. .Sayers, Esq., 
Clanville House, Andover. 
3. Second Prize—Cock and two Hens, gold-laccd, three years old—H. 
Holloway, Esep, Marchwood. 
12. Highly commended—Cock and two Hens, gold-laccd, 18 months, 
.£’2—Mrs. Mills, Bisterne, Kingwood, Hants. 
