44 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
even a first glance carries conviction ; still they so singularly 
resemble each other,yet of no acknowledged variety, that few 
would accredit they were a “ cross,” particularly as “ not a 
single outcast had been weeded from them. ’ They are most 
closely resembling in form “ pencilled ” birds, but larger and 
somewhat more stoutly built; the combs are well formed but 
heavy ; the ear-lobes,’in all instances, extremely large and 
quite’ tlorid, without even a stain of white, thus proving that 
the unusual excellence of both parents was not perpetuated in 
this respect. The cocks have clear, dark golden nacMes aifd 
saddles, the sickle feathers alone being the same colour; 
the remainder of the principal feathers of the tail, and also 
| all the su/e-coverts, are lustrous black. The breasts of the 
males are “ laced,” as in Sebright Bantams, not pencilled, 
but by far more heavily; even the thighs stre similarly marked. 
In’the hens the backs are “ mooned ” very nearly as well 
as most exhibition birds, but the neck hackles are clear, 
ruddy geld, without any lists or markings whatever; the 
breasts laced, as in the cocks. It is the “ regularity ” of all 
the fowls that surprises me as to contour, colour, and feather. 
I do not for a moment myself suppose this will prove a 
permanent variety, but will, on the contrary, “ breed out ’ 
again to a tolerable resemblance to one side or other of 
the parent fowls. Their sitting propensities are likewise 
quite a novelty, and certainly at once negative all precalcula¬ 
tions as to probability. Still, as they now appear (the 
parent fowls having never run with them, but removed 
altogether from the walk), there is much to commend them 
to the eye in absolute beauty of feather; in utility, as pro¬ 
ducing eggs abundantly; whilst sitting their own eggs, and 
afterwards raising their own young, is manifestly advan¬ 
tageous.— Edward Hewitt, Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, Bir¬ 
mingham. _ [ 
BLACK EAST INDIAN DUCKS. 
I have resided in Buenos Ayres nearly twenty years. I 
had always a fancy for poultry, and kept every variety known 
in that country. The only domestic duck in the country is 
the common large White Muscovy, nnd none other, and 
these will not go into the water. I beg to assure you that 
those birds called Buenos Ayres duoks, and which I have 
seen exhibited in Birmingham, Liverpool, and Preston, are 
decidedly not Buenos Ayres ducks. 
I am quite of opinion that they are the Black East Indian 
ducks. A neighbour has some exactly the same as those 
shown as Buenos Ayres ducks, but his came direct from 
India. 
If I can afford any further information on the subject 
command—W. B., Liverpool. 
TO PREVENT LICE IN CHICKENS. 
As the time is coming when we are preparing for young 
chicles, I take this opportunity to state that, for the purpose 
of preventing their being afflicted with lice, you must put 
plenty of wood ashes among the hay or straw that you sit 
your hens on. If you do this you will never be tormented 
• with that pest, and your hen will not spoil her feathers by 
picking and pulling herself.— Joshua Oldham, Hyde. 
CHARACTERISTICS OF BELGIAN CANARIES. 
| An article appeared in your number of the 17th ult. on 
the “ Characteristics of superior Canaries,” from a corre¬ 
spondent signing himself “ A Fancier.” Though I agree 
with the descriptions there given as far as they go, yet°the 
properties of the Belgian birds are not sufficiently detailed to 
serve as a guide to connoisseurs, breeders, or the uninitiated 
purchasers of those elegant pets. I therefore solicit a 
space in youf columns to elucidate more fully what are 
the most essential requisites for birds of this class, and 
the commonest defects to be guarded against in purchasing 
from dealers. 
STANDARD PROPERTIES OF BELGIAN CANARIES. 
1. Beak slender and clear. 
2. Head small and flat. 
3. Neck long and slender. 
4. Shoulders high, narrow across, and well filled, 
GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION, ArRiL *21, 1837. 
3. Back curving convexly and well filled; that is, not 
u l 
holloiv. . 
C. Wings long, narrow, compact, tlnn, and lying close to the 
body; the first two arms of the wings from the shoulder | 
joints lying close to the posterior margins of the ribs, on a 
level with the posterior borders of the shoulder-blades and 
the spine; the points of the pinion joints jutting towards 
tfhe neck, thus giving the appearance of a square finish to 
the shoulders, vulture-like. 
The inner borders of the flight feathers should meet 
evenly on the loins, their points coming well down to the 
tail, but not crossing each other when in easy position on 
the perch. 
7. Chest. There are two characters of chest. 
The first is circular , such an one as would slip through, 
and at the fore part accurately fit, a large-sized wedding ring. 
The second is somewhat levelled on its anterior under 
Surface to a shape much like the breastplate of an ancient 
English warrior. 
8. Body long, very slender, and tapering regularly from 
front of breast to vent. 
9. Tail long, narrow, thin, even (that is, not spreading or 
fish-tail-like at the extremity, but the twelve feathers 
wrapped together as one feather only, “piped”), and 
curving in continuous circle with the back. 
10. Legs and thighs very long, and perpendicular in stand. 
11. Feet long, and claivs slender. 
12. Feathers close, compact, hard, or firm, and entire. 
13. Colours 'rich, even, and regular. 
14. Attitude. Head, spine, and tail curving towards a 
circle. Legs and thighs perpendicular, or slightly flexed 
forward; beyond that, at the knee joint, as the bird stands 
up, the points of the pinions and legs should be nearly 
on a line; so also should be the tip of the beak and tail 
(as the points of a first-quarter moon). 
13. Best birds. Those having all or most of the foregoing 
properties best developed as a combined whole, and are the 
greatest length, which should not be l?ss than six inches 
from tip of beak to tip of tail, and which have, in addition, a 
voice full, clear, and melodious, the males having an 
extensive range of notes, and being well educated in song. 
ADVERSE PROPERTIES. 
No good, healthy, vigorous Belgian Canary should have 
loose or uncompact feather, nor have scarcity of feather, 
nor have a large or high round head, nor have a short or 
thick neck, nor be hollow between the shoulders or on the 
back, nor be straight in back and tail, nor be thick or short 
in body, nor be wide across the shoulders, nor have lowering 
wirigs nor spreading tail, nor have short legs or thighs, nor 
have legs flexed backwards, as our small English birds of 
the Finch tribe. 
The plumage of clear birds should be either of a good 
clear buff or a deep errange colour, and not have a single 
feather, however small, foul or discoloured, nor have had 
any either large or small fbathers plucked, nor the tips of 
any clipped off. It requires niee examination to detect 
those barbering trieks which are frequently practised on the 
unwary by bird dealers. 
The bird should not pant in its breathing, nor have a 
husky cough, nor have a discharge from the nostrils or 
mouth, nor have a whining moan as if in pain, nor bristle 
up its feathers languidly, and have a disposition to keep the 
head tucked under the wing during the day. 
These last are symptoms of disease, and purchasers 
should always carefully avoid birds having them.— John 
Yarley, Nottingham. 
ANSWER TO THE “ INDIGNANT DORKING." 
Mrs. Dorking, I am delighted at being able to answer 
the numerous assertions you made against our race. I 
must repeat, and in this I am supported by “ A Wiltshire 
Poultry-keeper,” that our appetites are not nearly so large 
as yours, and our eggs are as large in proportion to our size 
as those laid by Dorking hens. If we are subject to humped 
backs, let me ask, Who are liable to have crooked breasts ? 
Look in the glass, Mrs. Dorking, and answer this question, 
and learn that those “ who live in glass houses should not 
] throw stones.” I must stand up for myself and five of my 
