January 1. 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
247 
’ CHINESE AND POLES. 
I WAS travelling in a second-class carriage to the Rir- 
minghani Show, and having observed iny fellow passengers, 
a tall, thin man, with a Avhite neckclotli and ample coat, 
I which almost concealed his features, the small pai’ts of them 
visible being in every way sharp ; and a stont jolly-looking 
man, on pretty good terms with himself and the rest of the 
, world, I was becoming drowsy, when their conversation 
awoke me. 
j Thin. Groing to Birmingham ? 
Jolly. Yes, Sir. Great change in Chinese. 
Thin. I hope an improvement. 
Jolly. I think there is every indication of it. I hope to 
have proof of it before I return. 
Thin. Depend very much on how long you are away. 
Jolly (rather nettled). Of course it does; but you will 
admit, of late the tendency has been that way, 
Thin. That is matter of opinion; but I confess I think 
the revolution taldng place will tend to good. 
Jolly. Yes, to those wlio only lately invested in them, but 
those who laid out their money some time since must be 
heavy losers. 
Thin. Whenever the proper balance is disturbed there 
must he sufferers; but I question if the public are not 
gainers in the end. All these things tend to overthrow 
monopolies. 
Jolly. I do not call that a monopoly where, although the 
pi’ice is high, evei’y man can buy for his money. 
Thin. I do. Monopoly makes things dear, and keeps 
them beyond the reach of the mass. 
Jolly. Well, you can’t say they are dear now. What do 
you think of the Polish 'I 
Thin. They are altogether different; their small numbers 
make them an insignilic.ant class compared to the Chinese ; 
and they are so hemmed in by other and more powerful 
races, that they are almost in danger of being absorbed by 
them. 
Jolly. I can’t agree to that. I know the breed well. 
Thin. Very likely; but you also know the Poles are not 
a distinct breed or race. 
Jolly. I know they are, and few have more good qualities. 
Thin. Gi'anted; but the state of subjection in which they 
are kept, and have been for some time, is not without its 
effect on them. 
Jolly. I keep mine well, they are fed three times every 
day, have a good grass run, and lay— 
Thin. What are you talking about ? 
Jolly. Polish fowls. 
Thin. Fowls ! Good night. Sir; I spoke of men. 
X. 
POULTRY IN COLD WEATHER. 
Severe weather seems to he visiting us again. PYre- 
wamed is forearmed. Do not let your fowls lose condition. 
Peed generously on oatmeal slaked with hot-water, and give 
it before it is quite cold. See that the ice is broken on their 
water. Save the bottoms of beer, and even wine from your 
table, mix it with their food. The best warmth you can 
provide for your feathered friends is that induced by liigh, 
but not improper feeding.—X. 
POLANDS AS LAYERS. 
Friend Boothby catches me on the hip, for asserting that 
the Polands are not good egg-producers; indeed, on re¬ 
ferring to a November (Jth number, I see it veritably printed, 
and my signature at the footing. Most times misconceptions 
ai'ise from portions only of an article being quoted, and such 
has been the case here. The article was especially devoted 
to birds bearing confinement. Now, I apprehend this puts 
a new complexion on my November note, for no sort bears 
restriction less and resents it more, consequently, their 
usefulness is much curtailed; but I grant you, treat them as 
your Louth breeder does, and you’ll find them, as summer 
layers (in common with all the Poland class), first-rate. 
Your correspondent althougli A 1 in his Poland breed, is 
not too bigoted to confess that my observations, in general, 
were correct, relative to the Andalusians, although no one 
has answered my queries respecting them.—W. A. 
Query. —What is a Black Hamburgh ? and what colour 
ought the cock to be? 
TO THE PIGEON FANCY^ 
I SHALL be much obliged if all fanciers, and especially 
all exhibitors of Pigeons, will briefly write me their opinions 
on a question which it is highly important should be defi¬ 
nitely settled. It is this—In a pen of Pigeons “to consist 
of four different sorts or varieties," is it proper to put a pair 
of Almond Tumblers, and also a pair of Mottles, of Balds, 
or of Beards ? For my own part, I wish that it were proper 
and allowable to do so, inasmuch as we have but three 
fancy sorts of Pigeons at present, viz.—Pouters, Carriers, 
and Tumblers. Still, I entertain the gravest doubts of 
putting two varieties of Tumblers in a pen to consist of 
four different sorts. Are they not all Tumblers ? just as 
yellow, black, red, or blue pied Pouters, are still all Pouters ? 
So it miyht possibly be said that Fantails, Swallows, Owls, 
&c., are all toys —and, hence, an equal objection—but 1 fear 
that the cases are hardly tantamount. 
I should be especially obliged if different Pigeon Societies 
would entertain this question in full candour, and write me 
the result. I promise to lay the sum total of the opinions 
before the readers of the Poultry Chronicle. If a particular 
decision can be come to now —-a resolution to agree to it, or 
otherwise, will, I am satisfied, save future differences and 
protests. 
One pen entered for the Cup at Birmingham contained 
both Almond Tumblers and Mottles; had this pen been 
successful, objection would probably have been taken to it. 
It is, therefore, but due to poultry committees, that ex¬ 
hibitors should come to a decision amongst themselves, be 
it for or against, or how could the committees deal with 
such an objection to the award of the Cup, if made ? I 
repeat, therefore, that the question demands the calm and 
honest consideration of the fancy ^low, when no one’s 
interest is particularly compromised.— Tristram Shandy, 
Post Office, Hull. 
CHAPTERS FROM THE TRISTRAPCEDIA. 
No. II. 
THE “BRUMMAGEM” JUDGMENT OF PIGEONS. 
“And laughter—holding both his sides!” — L’Allegro. 
Oh ! what would I have given for my uncle Toby to have 
whistled Lillibiillero ! I have before told you, my dear 
readers, that, when anything particulaidy outrageous or 
ludicrous occurred in the Shandy family, no two men could 
be more oppositely affected thereby than were my fattier 
and my uncle Toby. My father, did anything irntate and 
cross his humour, would forthwith huif, and pish, and 
bounce about, consigning the offending object, be it what it 
might, to as many imps as chose to accept of it. My uncle 
Toby, on the other hand, invariably got rid of his exuberant 
mental impressions, were they grave or gay, by whistling 
Lillibiillero ! 
By the height, <fcc., of the tone at which the tune was 
pitched, but, especially by the manner of its execution, jt 
was quite manifest wliat w'as the nature of the offence. Had 
any one done a cruel, or a dirty action, the effect of his 
whistling was infinitely striking; for, fanciful as it may 
appear, I must declare to yon, that it conveyed as impressive 
and as severe a rebuke, as if he had read a chapter of 
cursing out of the book of Ernulphus himself! Wlien, ; 
however, the matter was simply absurd, or egregiously i 
ridiculous, the effect w'as irresistably comic ! Yet, at the 
same time, ’twas so pointed, so truly satirical, that bold- ' 
faced folly lierself w'ould instantly doff her cap and bells ; | 
and the ears of shallow’ ignorance would tingle, as she ■ 
threw aside her flimsy mask of iiretension. i 
I say, then, wdiat would I have given for my uncle T(d)y j 
to have whistled Lillibiillero at Birmingham, last w'eek but 
one, w’hen there was perpetrated the most enormously 
