220 
THE„ COTTAGE GARDENER. 
December 19. 
Mr. C. T. Nelson took the first prize. He has favoured 
us with the above portraits of his birds, accompanied by this 
note “ Within twenty minutes after the sale-room opened 
they were sold, much to my regret. These birds have never 
been beaten, anil I firmly believe never will. They took the 
first prizes at the Itoyal Agricultural Show at Gloucester, 
at Derby, and at Birmingham, within the last month.” 
Under the designation Bramah Pootras we found a medley 
assemblage, without any manifestation of fixed points, or 
characteristics that would keep us out of the many difficulties 
that at present beset the mind of an enquirer into their 
origin. Several among them were stout, well-shaped birds, 
| and of these a preference seemed to be given to the darlc- 
I pencilled and the pea-combed. Mr. Allison’s old birds were 
in the post of honour, first and second. 
Among the Single Corks, which come next on the catalogue, 
Mr. Wright’s Dorking (919) deserves a special notice, with 
another in pen 921. These were singularly good among an 
excellent class. Mr. Rake’s Spanish cockerel has already 
- received the attention at our hands that his merits called for. 
i The prize Shanghae cock of Mrs. Donne possessed colour, 
J weight, and form, in a wondrous degree; he was, probably, 
| the heaviest bird in tho room. In pen 215, we found the 
curiosity of a perfectly-pencilled Hamburgh cock with a hen- | 
! tail, as regularly marked as any hen of his race. He remained 
j unnoticed, as we venture to think a square-tailed Hamburgh i 
j over should. 
Among tho single Game cocks, we were immediately struck 
with the best bird of his kind that it lias ever been our good 
| fortune to behold,—a Black-breasted Red, belonging to Mr. 
I France, which walked over the course for the first prize. 
Symmetry, power, and activity, were united in his form, as 
were brilliancy of colour and hardness of feather in his 
plumage. 
We now come to the Game fair's , where tho White and 
1 Biles could hardly bo called as good a show as those 
Bingley Hall witnessed in 1853. The Black-breasted Red 
mustered strongly, and in both divisions had good specimens; 
but the Vase was awarded to a pen of Duckwings (Pen 1287), 
the property of Mr. Brindley, of Kinver. An adjoining pen, 
1293, contained admirable birds, that would, probably, have , 
stood very high, had they matched in the colour of their j 
legs. 
The Malays, the hens especially, were more quarrelsome, ! 
and out of temper at confinement, than any of the other 
birds ; several were thus soon maimed, and even scalped. The 
peculiarities of the Malay are so strikingly illustrative of his 
specific distinctions from other fowls, that we always hail 
with satisfaction the presence of a good bird of a race, that 
if loft to its own merits, in an economical point of view, 
would, probably, soon bo forgotten among us. The elon¬ 
gated, but powerful limbs, and the peculiar formation of the 
head, skull, and beak, forming portions of the same curve, 
were peculiarly well exemplified in a dark cock in Pen 1236. j 
Among the “ Other distinct breeds ," we had the usual | 
assemblage; some curious, others suspicious; but none, as i 
yet, evidencing a claim to be advanced, in point of utility or ; 
beauty, beyond their present position. 
However coarsely built may be tho Indian Game fowl, the j 
tho birds shown in 1263 were evidently the produce of Malay \ 
parents on one side or the other, if not on both. The white : 
liad a singularly bare, elevated nostril. 
Ptarmigans were altogether eclipsed by the Turkish fowls ; 
of Miss Watts; pretty little tufted, bearded, booted curiosities. , 
Mr. Channing’s White Spanish were tho best of a sub-variety, 
which has little to please in our eyes. Some Malay Piles 
were ticketed “ Itangoan," and some whiskered, wild-looking 
Cossacks, irregularly spangled in black and white, were 
side by side, and looking angrily at the “ Varna" birds of 
Mr. Naylor. 
Mr. Adkins’ Gold-laced Bantams came first—tho cock’s 
tail being very clear and well laced. These may certainly be 
called a good pen, but the same can hardly be said in favour j 
of the silver birds, which were indifferent in markings., | 
