THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 1], 
434 
tate,” tho bost birds are easily distinguished, though 
denuded of feathers, because there is no great defect. 
On the other hand, no state of plumage, however good, 
can cover a capital fault. 
Wo would, from these assertions, point out a few cases, 
which may, at a future timo, help somo of our readers. 
Two pens shall bo exhibited side by side. In one, there 
shall bo two pullets of exquisite beauty of feather and 
shape, a cock with a visible and marked defect. In the 
other, three birds almost below mediocrity. Granted, 
the two pullets in the first-named pen are worth a host 
of birds such as figure in the second; yet tho prize must 
either be withheld or given to the second. Why ? Be¬ 
cause, however inferior they are, there is still no capital 
fault to disqualify. Say they are Polands, and the cock 
in the best pen has white legs; say they are Hambro’s, 
and the cock has an imperfect comb; say they are 
Dorkings, and a fifth claw is deficient; say they are 
Cochin-China’s, and the cock has clean legs; say, in any 
class, there is a hump-backed bird. 
In every case here quoted no amount of merit can 
even allow the pen to compete; because, with competent 
Judges, they will be disqualified as soon as they are 
seen, and then pens of inferior value must take their 
places. 
We often hear it said by an exhibitor, “ My hens were 
so good, I thought I must take a prize.” To such we 
say, If you wish them to tell, mate them with a bird 
below mediocrity, if you will, but avoid one with any 
capital defect. In most instances, the successful birds 
are handled by the Judges, and in all, scanned much 
more closely than exhibitors imagine. The sight of one 
of the Judges’ books will reveal many defects in pens 
which their owners thought perfect, and will explain deci¬ 
sions which appear at first sight strange. It is after much 
conversation with some of them we have penned these 
remarks, thinking they would be eminently useful from 
their practical bearing. A good middle-class fowl will 
be more successful than one with every good point save 
one, if the absence of that one constitute a disqualifica¬ 
tion ; yet the former shall not have one prominent 
merit. 
NOTES ON THE ANERLEY POULTRY SHOW. 
This large exhibition of Poultry and Pigeons was held in 
the Anerley Gardens, near the Crystal Palace, on the 28th, 
29th, and 30th of August. There wero 755 pens of poultry 
eutered, and very few that were not filled; and 205 of 
pigeons, making in all a total of 960 pens, which were of 
the bost construction I have yet seen, being made of boards 
on all sides, except the front, which was of stout iron wires ; 
the roof was made slanting to protect the birds from rain, 
but the roof for such purpose was fortunately not required. 
Each pen was provided with a zinc water-pan and a green 
turf, which contributed much to the comfort and well-being 
of the inmates. The pens were whitened inside, and I 
noticed a few that had the back black (for the White 
Shaugbaes) that showed the birds off well. 
From tho season of the year the birds were much in the 
moult, and did not appear so attractive as at other times. Of 
Black Spanish there was a good show, though much out of 
feather; many of the birds had extraordinary white faces, 
one in particular being so warted as somewhat to impede 
his vision. The chicken did not appear so forward as I 
i expected. I cannot but think this valuable breed is rather 
j slighted by such committees who only give prizes for one 
variety. Surely, the White and Blue Spanish, or Andalusian 
fowls, are as worthy of prizes as tho White, Black, or Grey 
Shanghaes ever were. 
The Grey Surrey, or Poulterers’ fowl, here rejoicing in their 
common title of Coloured, Dorkings , were well encouraged, 
having four classes. Some of the unnoticed birds appeared 
to me better shaped than those that were noticed; still, I 
have no wish to dispute the point with Mr. Bailey, as un¬ 
doubtedly he is better able to judge what form is most re¬ 
munerative and trusses best, which will produce the most 
meat and least offal. 
Tho White Dorking was also here in considerable num¬ 
bers, and appears to be regaining the favour it so well 
deserves; but as these are, I think, the right aspirants to 
the name, being the veritable fowl bred at Dorking (whether 
better or worse), they ought, in justice to fancy and science, 
to be placed first on the list of Dorkings. I am sorry to see 
that the judges so far forgot themselves as to overlook form 
in this variety, and to award a first prize to a bird of Malay 
proportions. The second-prize bird was also too leggy. Size, 
which ought only to be of a secondary consideration, 
seemed to have caused this departure from good judgment. 
Neither were the combs of good rose form in a first and 
second-prize cock which I noticed; but whatever latitude 
is allowed to the so-called coloured Dorking in this respect, 
it is of the utmost importance in the true or White Dork¬ 
ing. I do not wish to say anything disparaging of the 
coloured as an excellent table fowl; but I think it right 
that each should receive their due honours in their proper 
place, and be judged by their own rules. 
Next in order came the Shanghaes; and as I consider the 
dark reds and dark browns the original, if not the purest 
variety, I think they should occupy the post of honour of 
this breed on the prize sheet. Of browns and buff’s there 
were some good birds. I noticed some dark cinnamon 
cocks with light hens. The white have certainly very much 
improved, and among the grey (which were here honoured 
above their deserts, by four classes and a silver cup, as 
Brahma Pootras ) were some good specimens of the 
Sliangliae breed; but wherever the vaunted pea-comb 
showed itself, there was the Malay visage. 
The Game were well represented in all six classes ; prece¬ 
dence was here given to the whites and piles, which should 
not be; the reds, duckwings, and greys, always had the pre¬ 
ference with the cock-fighters, and, consequently, should 
stand first and alone on the lists; all other colours might 
then be allowed to follow. I was particularly struck with 
the absence of yellow legs, and the large size of some of 
the cockerels. 
Malays were unjustly left out of the prize list, which is 
much to be regretted, as poultry fanciers owe much to this 
nearly forgotten breed. A few middling birds were shown 
in the various classes, but so sadly out of feather, as only, I 
fear, to bring discredit on this noble race. 
I next come to the Bolton Bays and Greys (or Hamburgh 
classes) ; the Gold and Silver-pencilled seem to be improv¬ 
ing. The awards in these classes did not give much satis¬ 
faction. In one case, a prize seemed to rest wholly on the 
ear-lobe of the cock, which was good; but the hens were of 
very inferior pencilling. In another case, the pencilling of 
a hen seemed the prominent quality. 
The so-called Spangled birds are evidently in a state of 
transition, the Golden having no definite marking, that I 
could perceive; while the Silver vacillated between the White¬ 
necked Creels with creeled tails, and the Silver Moonies 
with dark hackles and tails. It is the confusing of the 
various markings under one denomination that spoils all; 
for it must be evident that as Mooneys, Creels, and Moss 
Pheasants, I think, are three different varieties, the mixing 
of those varieties must spoil the markings. 
Class 31 brought me to the Crested fowls. The white- 
crested blacks are improving, but have still too much black 
in front of their otherwise good top-knots, and their spiked 
combs, formerly much too prominent, are now much lighter. 
IVhat I call the Golden and Silver-crested Hamburghs 
(or Bearded Polish), have also improved with regard to the 
fulness of their topknots; but the form of their marking is 
by no means decided. 
