55 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, October 23, 1860. 
only mean to continue a-licacl, but also actually outstrip their 
productions of former years. 
The sweepstakes for Game Cocks was worth a long journey to 
inspect, yet there were doubtless many birds that by proper 
feeding and attention could have been marvellously improved. 
The Game Bantams year by year become more and more popular, 
which they richly deserve. Only three pens of Sebrights were 
entered, and those decidedly inferior to such as were shown only 
some three or four years back. I was much gratified to sea the 
Show so well attended, and the very pleasing manner in which 
everything connected with it was transacted.— -Viator. 
HAMBURGHS AT WORCESTER. 
I see by a report of the Worcester Show in The Cottage 
Gardener, in your notes respecting the Hamburghs two remarks 
that surprise me. You say Mrs. Pettat’s pen of Silver-spangled 
Hamburghs realises one excellence which seems almost lost— 
that of a properly laced and barred wing. It has always been 
the opinion of Yorkshire breeders that the lacing is objectionable, 
amounting almost to a disqualification. There is no difficulty in 
producing the laced wing, but we always avoid breeding from 
.any that have it: hence it has almost disappeared—and the 
name “Spangled Hamburgh” seems to imply a spangled bird 
and not a laced one. I should be glad (and I am sure the 
breeders in this locality would also), if Mr. Hewitt, Mr. Baily, 
and Mr. Pulleino would give us their views on that point through 
The Cottage Gardener. I appeal to them, as they judged at 
Worcester and are our most popular Judges. It is a matter that 
ought to be set right. 
The second statement that struck me was about the Silver- 
pencilled Hamburghs, that the Goldens were going a-head of 
them. I cannot think that is correct. I sent a faultless pen to 
Worcester, which were not noticed ; so that, if there were birds 
more perfect, there is not any falling off in the quality of that 
most beautiful and useful breed.—J as. Dixon, Bradford. 
THE BIRMINGHAM CATTLE AND POULTRY 
SHOW. 
The time for holding what are usually called the Christmas 
exhibitions is fast approaching ; and we therefore remind those 
■of our readers who are prepared to. take part in the competition 
in Bingley Hall this y r ear that they should lose no time in applying 
for the requisite certificates. The last day for making entries 
will be Thursday, the 1st of November, the Show'this year being 
fixed for the 3rd, 4tli, 5th, and 6th of December. As far as it 
is possible at present to form an opinion, the prospects for this 
year’s meeting may be considered favourable, as we believe that 
a number of new exhibitors will enter the lists, while it is rarely 
that the old supporters of the Birmingham Show fail to make 
then’ appearance. 
It is satisfactory to be enabled to add that the Council have 
not overlooked some changes which were required in their 
poultry prize lists, and which had been pressed on their attention 
by several of the leading exhibitors. The most important of 
these changes is the addition of separate classes for Silver Grey 
Dorkings—a concession which was certainly well deserved, and 
could not with propriety have been longer delayed. The Dorking 
■classes are the most extraordinary in the whole Exhibition, and 
the marvellous improvement which has been made in this variety 
since the establishment of the Birmingham Meeting is universally 
acknowledged. Weight will always, of course, be of great im¬ 
portance in estimating the value of this our finest table fowl; 
but at the same time quality and beauty of plumage need not be 
overlooked—for many of the Dorkings are unquestionably very 
handsome birds—and the division of the coloured varieties which 
has now been made will, we are sure, be most satisfactory to the 
exhibitors, and greatly facilitate the labours of the Judges. 
Another change is the opening of classes for Brown and other 
Red Game fowl, retaining, of course, separate classes for the 
Black-breasted Reds, still further carrying out the same principle 
by which the Council have been guided, not to permit two 
varieties for one or the other of which a preference may be sup¬ 
posed to exist to compete together. The Game Bantams 
mustered so strongly last year, and formed so attractive a 
feature of the Exhibition, as to lead to a further recognition 
of their claims, and there is now a class exclusively for Block¬ 
breasted Reds, another for Duckwings, and a third for Single 
Cocks. 
\\ e would again urge upon intending exhibitors that an early 
application for certificates is most desirable. 
THE FIFTEENTH' RULE of the BIRMINGHAM 
POULTRY SHOW. 
Permit me through your columns respectfully to suggest to 
the Council of the Birmingham Poultry Society the propriety of 
revising their fifteenth regulation. 
This regulation says that none but donors or subscribers of 
not less than £1 per annum will be entitled to compete for 
prizes. Exhibitors in addition to their subscription will be 
charged 2s. 6 d. each pen. A subscriber may enter four pens of 
poultry, or six pens of Pigeons. Another regulation gives sub¬ 
scribers of £1 six admission tickets. 
Now', many small, poultry fanciers only keep one kind or class 
of birds, and, according to this regulation, to enter their single 
pen they must pay £1 2s. Gd., while their extensive and more 
wealthy competitors, who keep many varieties, can show four 
pens for 30s. This is unjust, and I have often heard it com¬ 
mented upon severely. I know, too, that it has kept many 
first-class pens from the Exhibition. It also leads to dishonest 
showing, small fanciers clubbing together and entering then’ pens 
in one name. If the Society would try the experiment of charging 
a uniform rate for each pen entered, or keeping up the privilege 
of four pens for 30s. to subscribers, admit exhibitors of one or 
two pens at about the same rate, or a little higher—say 7s. Gd. 
to 10s., the amount not to exceed 10s. per pen, with an admission 
ticket for each entry, it would give great satisfaction to many, 
increase the attractions of the Show, and I feel sanguine that 
the funds of the Society w’ould benefit by it; while the com¬ 
petition would no longer be a monopoly in the hands of the 
great fanciers, but the humble fancier with his single pen be 
induced to try his chance in the great race for that much-coveted 
prize—one of the great Birmingham blue ribbons.—S. Barlow. 
RED WORM IN PHEASANTS. 
I shall send you to-morrow tw'o or three dead Pheasants. 
I will label them each to distinguish their peculiarities. I have, 
since I saw you in town, extracted many worms from Pheasants’ 
trachea?, and compared them under the microscope with those 
taken from waterbutts, and I came to the conclusion they are 
the same. One entomologist alone inclining to a different 
opinion; but his reason is from the fact, that the same could 
not exist in two such different elements—a reason easily com¬ 
batted by reference to the bott in the horse’s stomach. I have 
met with the disease in one lot under peculiar circumstances, 
which I think may be interesting to you. 
Being thirty miles from home, and accidentally hearing of a 
wa n who had twenty-four birds, I found them in a dirty, 
miserable room with a boarded floor. They looked very well, 
and I thought them a good sample to experimentalise upon. 
I sent a man and cart for them, and placed them in a mew, 
where some old ones had been, with a south aspect. In this 
mew was some hard water that had been there three days. Of 
this water they partook two days, when it was taken out, and 
they had no more water for ten days, when they showed symp¬ 
toms of the distoma. They had been fed as they had previously 
upon sifted barleymeal and four eggs daily, new wheat and 
barley, and occasionally a few worms and maggots. I turpen- 
I fined them all, but the cough was greatly increased by this. 
They also had all the bread, with strong beer, they would eat; 
but no water of any kind, save that which was in the meal and 
egg, which was very little. They gradually improved, but in 
the course of ten days the cough returned, and I applied the 
feather again with spirit of wine, and I liked this better. It is 
equally fatal to the worm, and not so irritating to the bird. 
They had all the beer we could induce them to take, still they 
flagged, and some died. We found it necessary to apply the 
feather again ; but the new agent operates in killing them by the 
operation. I this morning applied the feather dipped in muriated 
tincture of iron, which I have used with success before, when 
the patient in a minute after struggled and died. I have killed 
many this year in this way, and upon dissection fail to discover 
the cause. * I shall send you the bird, and hope you will examine 
