Januaiiy 2:2. 
301 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION 
plumage is in good order. Tliere is no visible malformation, 
or any tiling that I can detect, to account for her sluggish¬ 
ness. She lias been in this state about a week. She eats, 
though witli little relish, and her comb is not as fresli-look- 
ing as it should be. I am completely at a loss, both as to 
the nature of her complaint and probable remedy, and can 
only, tlirough your columns, ask some more experienced 
poultry-keeper to give me the benefit of his better know¬ 
ledge.—II. S. H. 
[The symptoms described point out obscurely some disease 
of an important internal organ, possibly of the liver, or some 
portion of the digestive system. The symptoms are not 
sulhciently marked to render a certain diagnosis possible. 
A grain of calomel may be given as an alterative; but the 
case does not look promising.—W. B. T.] i 
ANNUAL GRAND SHOW OF THE RHILO- | 
RERISTERON SOCIE’TY. ' 
■ 
Titk annual show of this society took place on Tuesday, i 
the 8th of January, in the large room at Freemasons’ 
Hall. The collection of Pigeons was numerous, varied, and 
of the very liighest character. 'SVhero all were excellent 
it is difficult to particularize; but it is impossible to pass 
over, without notice, the splendid Pouters of Mr. Butt, nor 
the collection of Mr. Wicking, which included a number of ’ 
sliort-faced Almond Buhlheads, the result of many years 
most c.areful breeding. Mr. Weir exhibited a number of 
exceedingly beautiful IJ'hite Fonlaih and Barhes; iMr. 
Esquilant some very superior Almonds and short-faced | 
Afottics. Nor must the collection of Carriers, from IMr. ' 
IMaddeford, and other members, be overlooked; or a pen of 
Yellow Tumblers, belonging to Mr. Lucy, whicli may be re- ; 
garded as unique. Among the large collection were some ' 
Berman birds, reimirkable from the wings being barred with 
white bars on a dark ground. The company was numerous, ; 
and included some of our first naturalists. Mr. Yarrell, 
whose name is a “household word” with alt Zoologists, and 
IMr. Darwin, whose “ Naturalist’s Voyage round the World ” ; 
is known all over the world, were present, and, with our 
old correspondent, IMr. Tegetmeier, were examining bird 
after bird, with a view to ascertain some of those ditferences 
on which the distinction between species or varieties depend. 
Successful as was the show of last season, it w'as sur¬ 
passed by that of the present; and that it may, if possible, 
continue to increase in interest, must be the wisli of all who 
have at any time experienced the courteous liberality of the 
Philo-Peristcrons. 
THE PIGEON AWARDS AT BIRMINGHAM. | 
The judging of the Pigeons at our late shows lias so en¬ 
tirely disgusted me, that if I keep in my present mind, 1 do | 
not think (although I have been a very large and successful | 
exhibitor) I sliall ever exhibit again. Commencing at our i 
Birmingham Show—a pair of Pigeons I sent took the fii'st ! 
prize, as, I believe, they invariably liave done at all the pre- , 
vious shows they had been at. I sent the same pair of j 
birds to Colcliester, and they were not even commended, 
although the pair tliat took the prize were inferior birds. 
I next sent them to Preston, with like result. Now, this 
pair of I’igeons are acknowledged to be, by all disinterested 
parties and good judges, equal if not the very best that 
have ever been exhibited in the United Kingdom. Tlie 
only reason I can give is, that where they have had the ' 
prize an acknowledged Pigeon Judge has acted. On the 
contrary, at Colchester and Preston, the Pigeon judging has 
been done by l*oultry Judges ; and I am sure, that ivithout 
tlie Judges have kept all varieties, and studied tliem well, ' 
for at least twelve months, they cannot know any thing 
about them. In regard to the Judges at our Birmingham 
Shows, I consider, that if Mr. Cottle had acted alone he 
w'ould have given satisfaction, although I do not know him, 
but merely from his judging at the Columbrian Society’s 
Show. I could give you many more cases, but thiidt the 
above one sufficient. If I have expressed myself too strongly. 
believe me, it is not more than I feel, and I hope that before 
next season you will lend your columns to put down any 
such cases of hjnorance or Parlialili/. The only Poultry 
Judge that knows any thing about Pigeons, I think, is Mr. 
Hewitt, of Spnrkbrook; but I think, where the funds will 
permit it, a separate and acknowledged Judge of Pigeons 
ought to be engaged.— A Victim to Ignohanoe on Pak- 
TIAI.ITY. 
COCK FOR CUCKOO DORKINGS—SINGLE- 
COMBED SILVER HAMBURGH HEN. 
Please to tell me if the Cuckoo, or light-grey Dorking 
hens are worth breeding from, and if a Black-breasted 
Silver-hackle cock would be a proper mate for them. Also, 
if you should discard a Silver-spangled Hamburgh hen, per¬ 
fect in every respect but having a single comb. Do you 
think, with a good cock her eggs would produce double- 
combed and good chickens ?— IVilltam Joshua. 
[The Cuckoo Dorkings are good, and very heavy fowls. 
They are also good fatters. The cock should be of the 
same colour as the hens, and such a bird as you name is 
not a iiroper mate. 
Discard your single-combed Silver Hamburgh hen by all 
means. However good the cock to which she might be put, 
she would be sure to throw some of her chickens like 
lierself.J 
BLACK-CRESTED BLACK POLANDS-GOLDEN- 
PENCILLED POLANDS —TAIL OF SILVER 
POLAND COCKEREL. 
Being an ardent admirer of tho Polish fowl, I was much 
interested by Mr. Tegetmeier’s communication, inserted 
some time ago in the Poultry Chronicle, concerning the 
long-lost and much-coveted Black-crested White Polish 
(which I am not yet entirely without hope of breeding this 
season myself). I, in common with many other Polish 
fanciers, shall, indeed, be 2 ileased if this beautiful variety be 
ever recovered. However, I have another novelty to report. 
A few months ago, I obtained a iiair of Polish chickens, 
which 1 reckon very handsome. They exactly resemble the 
Gold-pencilled Hamburghs, except tliat in the place of the 
comb they possess a handsome yellow top-knot. The pair 
of birds in my possession are not quite perfect specimens, 
but still they are very handsome birds, and 1 hope to breed 
some which will be up to the mark. They are well bearded. 
I enclose you a couple of feathers from the pullet’s back, 
and I may just say, in conclusion, that 1 am trying to pro¬ 
cure some Silver-pencilled ones. 
Being in possession of two Silver Polish Cockerels, one 
with a white tail, in which each feather is tipped with black, 
and the other with the regular splashed tail, I should be 
obliged if you, or some of your numerous correspondents, 
would favour me by saying which of these two fowls would be 
preferable, all other yioints being equal.— Geo. AV. Bootiiby, 
Louth, Lincolnshire. 
[The feather enclosed is that of a Pencilled Hamhro’, and 
has no affinity either to the Spangled Hambro’ or the I’olish. 
Judging from such a feather, coupled with a top knot, it 
lioints to a cross, and however beautiful the result may be, 
it is not to be depended upon for the future. 
If all the points are equal in the biilver Poland Coclcerels, 
we should prefer the white tail with the black syiot at the 
end; but it is only fair to state, such tails are generally 
accompanied by yi.ale and deficient markings on the body, 
especially on the wings.] 
COTTAGERS’ PRIZES AT THE BIRAIINGHAM 
POULTRY snow. 
The communication which appeared in No. 380, headed 
“ Suggestions to tho Committee of the Birmingham Poultry 
Show,” contains certain hints which are well worth the con- 
