388 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 2G, 1861. 
PLYMOUTH POULTRY SHOW. 
{From a Correspondent.) 
The weather was splendid Loth days—in fact, the finest 
weather we hare had for twelve months. More than £38 were 
taken at the door. So the number of admissions must hare 
been very great, when it is considered that a great many visitors 
went in with subscribers’ tickets. The Committee calculate upon 
having about £5, or perhaps more, to go towards next year’s 
account. All the hampers were sent off at 9 o’clock the morning 
after the Show closed, and some on the night of the closing. 
The Cochin class was the pride of the room. Even if the three 
pens of prize birds were taken away it would have been an ex¬ 
cellent class. Mr. Fowler’s Aylesbury Ducks were splendid; the 
second-prize birds were claimed at £7 7s. Miss Selina Northcote 
was first in the “any other variety class” with White Spanish, 
and they also were claimed at the price put on them—viz , 
£5 HU 
POULTRY AND PIGEON SALES. 
SALE OE ME. WICKING’S BIRDS. 
The attendance of buyers at Mr. Stevens’ sale room on the 
12th inst. was inconveniently large. Amongst them were many 
of the elite of Pigeon fanciers, attracted by the sale of the re¬ 
maining portion of the stud of Mr. Wicking, who has retired 
from the fancy. The most important of these birds were the 
silver, blue, and yellow Short-faced Baldheads. In addition 
there were a few Almond Tumblers, several pairs of Magpies, 
and a few German birds. The entire stock consisted of between 
seventy and eighty lots, by far the larger proportion of which 
were single birds. The average price realised was considerably 
over £1 per lot. 
The demand for really good birds continues steadily to in¬ 
crease, and, as a consequence, all the valuable specimens were 
sold at very fair prices. As invariably happens, also, when the 
stock of a celebrated fancier is sold, the desire to possess some 
of the strain leads to ridiculous prices being given for the in¬ 
ferior ones. Some of the Magpies were good ; they were sold in 
pairs, and averaged 10s. per pair. The Swallows were not equal 
to the Magpies, but realised about double the price. Two 
Almond Tumbler cocks sold at £3 and £2 12s. respectively. 
The Baldheads were the gems of the collection, especially 
the silver hens and blue cocks. These were sold singly, 
and a number of them produced sums varying from £1 to £2 
each. Some few even were sold for more than that amount. 
The extreme neatness, small size, and general good character of 
these birds called forth universal admiration. There were six 
lots of Almond Baldheads—a variety that we believe was first 
bred by Mr. Wicking. They were very pretty, though defective 
in distinctness of marking, the white head not being well defined. 
They averaged £2 per lot. Mr. Holmes sold some good Almonds. 
One hen produced £2 6s. The other lots from different amateurs 
included several Powders, but none of any character. One red- 
pied cock of no remarkable worth sold for £2. 
The poultry included nothing of any great merit. There 
were four lots of really good Embden Geese, that were almost 
given away; some Dorkings, pretty in feather but wanting in size; 
and a number of very bad Hamburghs, that sold for more than 
they were worth. 
THE RABBIT (Lepus cuniculus) : ITS HISTORY, VARIETIES, AND MANAGEMENT. 
{Continued from page 375.) 
THE AjSTGOEA. 
This fine species, of which we have before spoken, is a nativi 
of Asia, and the city of Angora gave it its name. It is worth; 
of remark that several races of animals that are to be met witi 
in that country, the suburbs of Brousse and the plains of ancien 
Troy, hare long silky fur, such as the Angora cat and Angor 
goats. 
The Angora Rabbit differs from the common, not only in 
the fineness .of its fur, its skin and its habits, but also in its 
flesh, which is not so tender as that of many other Rabbits, and, 
consequently, not so often used for the table. Its fur varies in 
colour. The white is the most common, yet not the less 
valuable; then come the grey, slate, or blue, black-and-white. 
The fawn-and-white is rare. 
Their skins are much sought by furriers, and when in quantity 
and good condition realise high prices ; and it is somewha*t 
surprising to see how little this interesting kind has been 
encouraged and cultivated in this country. 
M. Didieux states that this species offers notable differences 
from the other common kinds, or Short-furs. Thus, if the 
male were to be separated from his female and family, he would 
