THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION, May 5, 1857. 
are able to show many pens of first-rate adults; but all can 
pick out many of chickens, and not a few cups may be 
gained in the winter by the judgments and comparisons of 
these chicken tournaments. Nothing helps us so much to 
a correct opinion as comparison, and it is difficult for a man 
to carry his birds in his idea to a show with a vieAV of testing 
them by others. We all have a weakness for our own, and 
we will not see their defects if we can help it. 
It is too late in the season in November to make any dis¬ 
covery that may be turned to advantage, but these Shows 
will give ample time to alter, to amend, and to profit. We 
think, then, that even some unsuccessful breeders may 
hereafter thank us for calling their attention to these Ex¬ 
hibitions. 
We will conclude with one remark. If we mean to gain 
knowledge and experience by comparison we must take 
care to put ourselves in competition with the best of the 
class. Such prizes as we have named will be sure to attract 
the best birds of every breed. To be content with less would 
! be to put ourselves in the position of Don Quixote. He 
mended his helmet twice, and tried it with a sword cut, 
which demolished it both times. Somewhat discouraged he 
mended it a third time, and, without any trial, declared it 
perfect; nevertheless the sword of the Biscayan cut it in 
half, and took part of the knight’s ear with it. 
v r* 
I V" . 
BRAHMAS—ARE THEY COCHINS? 
I wish to offer some observations on the respective 
qualities of Brahmas and Cochins. Now, sir, Mr. Teget- 
meier, in his “ Profitable Poultry,” says that Brahmas are 
1 nothing else than cross-bred between Cochins and Dorkings 
j or Malays. To support this startling theory he brings for¬ 
ward his anatomical researches. He says that he has found 
the characteristic frontal groove of the Cochin very strongly 
marked in the Brahma. He also says that he has seen 
Brahma Pootras manufactured by allowing a Buff Cochin 
j cock to run with light Dorking hens. He also says that 
many contradictory statements are rife about their habits, 
&c. Now, let us look at the arguments favouring the sup¬ 
position of Brahmas being a pure breed. 
I will say nothing about the anatomy, as that I do not 
understand. However, if Brahmas are not pure, how is it 
they go on breeding so strongly and well without degeneracy, 
for in all cross breeds you find this effect? 
2ndly. The Brahmas differ in habits altogether from the 
Cochin. Brahmas roam over acres, and fly over fences and 
gates with ease; Cochins, on the other hand, never seem 
to grow tired of the same small bit of ground, and are con¬ 
fined by a three-feet fence. Brahmas roam about till dark; 
Cochins roost very early. Brahmas forage for themselves ; 
Cochins do not seem to have any idea of it. 
I should feel very much obliged if any of your subscribers 
would compare from experience the egg and chicken pro¬ 
duction of the two breeds.— One who Hesitates between 
Both. \ 
THE MERITS AND DEMERITS OF SPANISH 
FOWLS. 
People are now accustomed, especially Londoners, to laud 
Spanish fowls to the skies. Spanish are generally placed at 
the head of the prize-list, and higher prices are paid for 
them than for any other breed of fowls. Now, I am an 
enemy of Spanish, but still I want to look impartially and 
calmly into their merits and faults. The advocates of 
Spanish say that they are peculiarly well-fitted for town 
fowls, as they suffer less when full grown from confinement 
than any other breed. Again, they present such a striking 
contrast in the colour of their bodies , combs , and faces, that 
it is very pleasing to the fancier. Lastly, they lay such ex¬ 
ceedingly heavy, large, and richly-flavoured eggs. On the 
other hand, let me set forth a few of the faults of these 
fowls. Although they can bear a confined situation well, 
yet in a limited run they will not lay well. Then they 
moult so late in the year, and are so long in moulting that 
their laying in winter is very much impeded; and, lastly, 
77 
they do not sit, and through their “ gawkiness ” and long 
dark legs they are bad table fowls; and if their feathers get 
ragged, or their combs lose colour, or their white faces get 
injured, what miserable appearances the Spanish have! — 
A Wiltshire Poultry-keeper. 
ALL THE RULES AT POULTRY SHOWS 
SHOULD BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. 
It will be generally acknowledged that all of our Poultry 
Exhibitions are dependent in no small degree for continued 
success on the general satisfaction and obvious rectitude of ! 
the awards by those gentlemen who may be appointed to 
officiate as Judges. The suspicion of favouritism, or leaning 
towards the acting Committee of management, or even 
towards any one among their “friends,” if once engendered 
in the public mind, destroys every vestige of confidence. In 
such an unhappy state of things recrimination is certain to 
insue, and the harmony of good feeling and reliance once 
broken, misunderstandings of all kinds rather increase by 
litigation than otherwise, sometimes even extending so far as 
to induce personal fends and severances. How manifestly 
obvious and desirable it is, then, to use all due care for the 
prevention of these discords on occasions that certainly 
ought to be replete with feelings of pleasure and satisfaction 
only to every individual connected with them. To insure 
these much-to-be-desired results a carefully-advised prize- 
list and well-considered standard of “regulations” are 
compulsory and imperative; but even after these have been 
duly laid down not a few of our Poultry Committees have 
unfortunately wrecked their hopes by not strictly adhering 
to the rules as publicly put forth by themselves, when on 
the day of arbitration they find such rules militating against 
either some member of their own body, some intimate 
friend and acquaintance, or, perchance, some influential 
supporter of their own particular exhibition. These practices 
are decidedly worthy of the repudiation they generally call 
forth among the great body of competitors, who justly 
maintain that regulations once promulgated for the avowed 
guidance of all parties ought undoubtedly to bear equally 
and as stringently on every exhibitor as on any of his rivals. 
Any laxity on this score, call it by what name they will, is in 
truth neither more nor less than “ favouritism,” and ought i 
not even to be tolerated in a single instance. The awards } 
of the Judges surely ought not to be tampered with to suit 
the views of particular individuals; the golden rule should ! 
be to mete out to all the favours and position they deserve j 
without reference to individuality in any way whatever. 
This, however, most unfortunately not having proved always 
the case, it would be well if on all future occasions the rules, 
as 'printed for the particular show they apply to, should 
be unceremoniously enforced without respect to any party, 
for then, on this score at least, all grumblings would be 
finally dispelled. 
There is, too, another frequent cause of complaint that 
has again and again been brought forward, viz., selection of j 
the best situated pens to suit the interests of a certain party ; 
or parties. The injustice of this procedure, where really 
practised, as undoubtedly it has by careful pre-arrangement j 
frequently been, is so transparently obvious that we need say j 
no more than express our hearty wish it may never again take 
place. It is such practices that do most certainly militate 
against the permanency of Poultry Exhibitions in general; 
but very little doubt exists in our mind that in most 
instances these discreditable plans are adopted by exhibitors 
in the present day, who rather pursue the poultry “ fancy ” 
as a lucrative “calling” than solely as an amusement. To 
such parties winning is everything , and really the ex- i 
traordinary efforts made by individuals thus influenced, few, 
very few, among us would accredit who had not had the 
opportunity of witnessing transactions that take place 
carefully veiled from the public eye. Hence the vital 
importance of Committees acting with fearless independence 
of all exhibitors, determined that neither threats nor 
persuasions shall cause them to swerve from duty, is 
equally and as universally allowed as that the Judges 
themselves should enter the exhibition room without 
previous knowledge, acquired by any indirect means, as to 
