216 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 8, 1861. 
be adopted with regard to Pigeons ? It has been but once tried—I 
believe that was at Portsea, and the Show was most successful, a 
finer collection of young birds, especially stout birds, never before 
having been exhibited. It may be argued that there is difficulty 
in telling the age, and thus frauds are liable ; but if the penalty 
attached to discovery—viz., exposure of name and exclusion 
from other exhibitions were inflicted, it would, or ought to, 
prevent it. My reason for urging this point so strongly is, that 
all may have a fair chance, and to give encouragement to the 
rising fanciers. Now, it is well known, only better not mention 
names, there are persons who have some fine specimens of 
Carriers, Powters, &c., and it will take some years to beat them. 
These same birds keep a-liead at every Show, and as young 
Carriers and Powters cannot contend with old birds, it dis¬ 
heartens the rising generation, and the exclamation is, “ What is 
the use of sending ? I know Mr.-will, and I cannot beat 
"him and have no other chance.” 
Birds can be, it is true, purchased from these strains, but 
time is required to enable their progeny to compete at all. 
Now, by having a class for birds under one year old, all this 
will be obviated. Powters, Carriers, Dragons, and Barbs, are 
•easily known if young or old, and such experienced Judges as 
we have now would not be much deceived as to the ages of the 
other sorts. I am sure from the entries to the Portsea Show, 
that the scheme would answer, and the classes be well filled, and 
it would give inducement to beginners to persevere. 
As a subscriber to your paper I have ventured to make these 
observations, trusting that through the medium of your in¬ 
fluential columns you will bring it to the notice of the Secretaries 
of Exhibitions of Poultry and Pigeons.— A Young Stout Bied. 
THE CANARY AND THE BRITISH FINCHES. 
(Continued from page 154.) 
5.—THE TWITE (Fringilla F/avirostres). 
German , Berglianfling. French, Petite Linotte, 
La Linotte de Montague. 
The Twite, also known as French Linnet, Mountain Linnet, 
•and Moor Linnet, is, probably, the same bird the Scotch call 
the Muir Lintie. 
Although not a rare bird, yet it is not very common in the 
south of England, still a specimen can often be obtained in the 
London bird-shops, where they are not accounted of much 
value, a few being occasionally caught in the autumn and 
winter; but I have not heard of their being taken in any 
number. 
Bechstein does not seem to have seen the bird, which is only 
known to him through Latham’s description, from which he 
fancies it is only a hen or immature male of the common Grey 
Linnet. Had he, however, seen it he could not have mistaken 
if, as it is quite distinct from that bird; and though some 
naturalists are somewhat confused in their ideas respecting its 
Identity, yet those that know the bird admit its distinctness, 
which is well known to the London bird dealers. 
I have heard they are common on the Scotch moors, and that 
they breed among the heather. 
They are a trifle smaller than the Linnet, and rather darker 
-and duller in plumage. There is less white at the base of the 
quill-feathers of wings and tail; neither is the breast so red, the 
cock’s having only a rosy blush, but he has the peculiarity of a 
red spot on the rump. The beak i3 very different to that of the 
Linnet's, being shorter, slightly flattened at the sides, and of a 
.Yellowish colour with a brown tip, under it there is a black 
mark, giving the head a slight resemblance in shape to that of 
the Rcdpole. 
They are more lively than the Linnet, but not so active as the 
Redpole, and appear to be an intermediate species between 
them, though differing much from either. 
Their song is much inferior to that of the Linnet, yet it is 
lively, not devoid of sweetness, and often rehearsed. The birds 
•are docile and merry, and no collection of British Finches 
would be complete without one or a pair. 
At the Crystal Palace Show, 1859, a Hybrid or Mule, between 
Twite and Canary, was exhibited. It bore much resemblance to 
a Grey Canary ; but the head and beak were characteristic of 
the Twite. 
I think this bird has sometimes been mistaken for the greater 
Redpole.—B. P. Bbent. 
INFLUENCE OF THE QUEEN BEE IN A HIVE. 
Mb. AY. C. IIarbison, has published_in America, a work 
entitled “ Bees and Bee-keeping.” He styles himself “ a prac¬ 
tical apiarian.” The following is a summary of the results of 
his observations upon the internal economy of a hive :—“ First, 
that no sovereignty is exercised by the queen over the other bees 
in the colony. Second, that the entire economy of the colony 
is directed and executed by the worker bees, including to a very 
considerable extent, the actions of the quean. Third, the only 
necessity for the presence of the queen is to supply the colony 
with eggs. Fourth, that the time of laying eggs, and the number 
required at any given period, is controlled by the workers, and 
not by the queen. Fifth, that no eggs are deposited in the queen 
cells by the queens. Sixth, that no homage or filial affection is 
rendered or manifested for the queen by the workers, other than 
from the instinct of self-preservation.” 
[I have long thought that the degree of sovereignty exercised 
by the queen bee of a hive has been considerably over-estimated ; 
but I am not prepared to go all lengths with Mr. Harbison. 
There can be no doubt that a swarm of bees will follow their 
queen, and that they pay her a very marked homage which they 
do not render to one another, or to a strange queen. On the 
contrary, I have seen a queen bee stung to death by a worker m 
less than a minute after her introduction into a strange hive 
from which the native queen had not been removed.—A Devon- 
SIII BE BEE-KEEPEB.] 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Poultry-house {E. TP.)—If you send seven postage stamps, with your 
direction and an order for “ Tbe Poultry Book for the Many,” you will 
find, on consulting its page 9, a poultry-house just adapted to your wire- 
work, and as it is drawn to a scale, you will at once see the size of the 
houses, &c. If you do not wish to exhibit, but merely to keep up a supply 
of eggs and chickens, have six Cochin-China pullets, and a coloured 
Dorking cock. Get rid of the hens, and have six fresh, early-hatched 
pullets every year. 
Cochin-China Cock Diseased ( A Young Amateur). —He is in the last 
stage of ulcerated lungs. No treatment will save him. 
Spanish at the Kendal Poultry Show. —Mr. Rodbard’s chickens had 
the silver cup awarded them, and not Mr. Teebay’s adult birds, as erro¬ 
neously stated in our report last week. 
Frost-bitten Comb {E. C.). —It should have been washed with cold 
water as soon as noticed. Now, the best treatment will be to keep the 
bird in an outhouse or other place not hot, but where the temperature will 
not sink to 32°. The comb and wattles having a white eruption upon them, 
it will be safe treatment to anoint them with sulphur ointment which you 
can obtain from any chemist. Keep the bird generously. See what we 
say to-day about feeding in severe weather. 
I Hens Dying Suddenly {Idem). — The keeper’s hens die of apoplexy, 
I occasioned by a blood-vessel bursting on the brain. They are too fat, and 
the free access to the flesh-pots and other putrid scraps of the kennel, 
tells the cause. Less animal food would remove the evil. 
Plumage or Golden Polands {Novice). —It is not necessary your 
Poland cock should have a black tail, but his tail-coverts should be black 
in the centre, edged with the colour you have enclosed— i.e., a rich orange. 
The wattles are serious. If they are only imaginary appendages, and called 
wattles because they “ grow where the wattles ought to grow,” then they 
may be passed over ; hut if they really deserve the name, they are a great 
objection. Taking your description as a fair one, we should advise you to 
exhibit him. We are not at all sure you have not described a verv beauti¬ 
ful tail on a good bird. 
Feeding Poultry {Idem). —We do not approve your feeding, and it 
must be hard work for the barley to keep body and life together in this 
weather, with no better helpmates than rice and Indian corn. Give your 
whole corn at mid-day, and feed on ground oats orbarleymeal morning and 
evening. You will be surprised at the improvement in your fowls. Indian 
meal is bad feeding, but rice is worse. Those who have tried ground oats 
will be easily able to prove that they are more economical than the two 
former. 
Geese at Birmingham (A Subscriber and Exhibitor). —We shall very 
readily publish any rules and criteria of excellence which you may con¬ 
sider desirable to be followed by judges in awarding prizes to Geese 
exhibited, but we decline inserting criticisms which would make many 
parties dissatisfied by merely pointing out why it is thought B.’s Geese 
were better than A.’s. Besides, it is evident in the present case that four 
first-rate judges thought otherwise. 
Almond Tumbler {Cheshire). —Mr. Eaton’s book on the Pigeon gives 
much information, but it is very dear and very ill-arranged. If you send 
twenty postage stamps to our office, and order “ The Pigeon Book ” to be 
sent to you, you will find in that all that is needful. 
Antwerp Rabbits. —If Louis Doubois, who mentions these attaining 
I the weight of 14 lbs., will advertise when he has any to sell, he will meet 
I with several customers who have applied to us for his address. 
