100 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, June 0, 1857. 
peting birds, better development of general character, close 
approximation of plumage, or that equally important feature, 
“ condition.” When it is borne in mind that numbers 
of such specimens sprang from the same originals it must 
be very obvious how closely assimilating, when alike well 
treated, such birds are presented before the arbitrators, and 
how slight, in many instances, the superiority of the suc¬ 
cessful will now be to what was evidenced formerly. The 
discrimination of Poultry Judges is, consequently, taxed 
much more heavily than heretofore, whilst the immensely 
increased value of the prizes forms still another and cer¬ 
tainly not less weighty reason why the final conclusions 
of the arbitrators should be justifiable, and obviously the 
result of unflinching rectitude of purpose. 
My past experience convinces me this much-to-be-hoped- 
for end is far more readily attained at the hands of a few 
officials than of many, and with greater certitude likewise, 
besides one ether most desirable feature, vastly increased ex¬ 
pedition ; for I am fully assured any gentleman well versed in 
all matters appertaining to his office will complete his duties 
in far less time, and quite as satisfactorily, alone, as when 
several parties are conjointly awaiting unanimous decisions. 
Again, the “ difference of expense ” entailed upon Com¬ 
mittees where four or five Judges are engaged is too glaring 
to need more than the mentioning. Of course it is freely ad¬ 
mitted that where few only are employed to fulfil the duties 
of this thankless office their ability must be unquestionable ; 
still, in cases where the managers of Poultry Shows have 
confidently determined “in the multitude of counsellors is 
safety,” frequently has after experience proved to satis¬ 
factory demonstration that a portion of those officiating 
were mere drag chains on the progress of their more able 
colleagues. In case of ill-judged decisions, where arrived at 
by numerous arbitrators, “ the public ” can but very rarely 
indeed arrive at anything like “ the fact ” of who were the 
wrong doers ; so much so, that one incident occurred within 
my knowledge where a disputed premium became the sub¬ 
ject of a really close inquiry from the unsuccessful, queries 
being proposed separately to all three of the adjudicators, 
when, strange to say, the whole trio laid the fault at the 
doors of each other, excusing themselves individually on 
the ground of “ being outvoted.” 
I am confident, too, where a Poultry Judge acts solely on 
his own personal responsibility, giving no loop-hole for eva¬ 
sion or subterfuge in case his awards are open to objection, 
greater carefulness will be invariably elicited on his part to 
fulfil the duties efficiently, he well knowing the impossibility, 
if thus situated, of shifting the blame on to the shoulders of 
any other individual, If a large show of poultry, the classes 
might easily be apportioned to separate adjudicators, either 
by the special appointment of the managing Committee, or, 
were it deemed more advisable, by private arrangement 
among the Judges themselves, still leaving it patent to all 
exhibitors who officiated in any particular variety, and thus 
! holding each Judge only responsible for his individual 
allotment. In such case “favouritism," which, wherever 
it has unhappily been practised, has proved itself equally a 
“ twin curse on Poultry Exhibitions with the roup,” can 
never be indulged. Private interests dare not be provided 
for, as immediate and certain reprehension could alone be 
the necessary sequence of such procedure on the part of ally 
official who acted so unjustly. Nor can I myself accredit 
that any Poultry Judge would, when thus isolated, dare to 
make even an attempt so positively suicidal to his future 
creditability. 
To some amateurs accustomed to take things as they find 
them, and who, perchance, merely forward their birds to 
distant localties, and afterwards quietly await the result of 
their success by the inspection of a printed prize-list, my 
remarks may not appear so vitally important as they really 
are to those availing themselves of the opportunity of 
personal inspection of the poultry during exhibition; whilst 
to not a few ot the latter class several instances will recur 
to their recollection distressingly suggestive of the time¬ 
worn axiom that “ kissing goes by favour.” As in times by¬ 
gone such plague spots have unfortunately manifested them¬ 
selves, and that, too, where after-proof convinced the most 
sceptical that private reasons existed for so flagrant and per- 
tinaciously-adhered-to a decision, it cannot be deemed un¬ 
reasonable to suppose that the greatly enhanced value of the 
premiums now offered, combined with the infinitely closer 
approximation as to excellence of the contesting specimens 
of the poultry exhibited, will undoubtedly foster still stronger 
inducements for its repetition, to the increased annoyance 
of the ill-treated, though more deserving amateur, and the 
general decadence of good feeling among all except the 
special few, who by compact endeavour still to maintain 
inviolate practices that are so diametrically opposed to the 
perpetuity, or even present welfare, of our Poultry Exhi¬ 
bitions, and, I need scarcely add, alike adverse to the 
honourable intentions of those gentlemen by whom they were 
at the onset originated. But the plans I have just brought 
forward, if adopted, preclude even the possibility of its long 
continuance; indeed, blight at first effort “ favouritism ” 
of any and all kinds, whilst to a Poultry Judge, capable and 
anxious only to act independently of all parties, it offers 
no difficulty whatever. He feels his competency to fulfil 
the duty, or why undertake it ? and obtains the manifest 
advantage, likewise, of arriving at his conclusions altogether 
unfettered by the opinions of others diverse from his own. 
I am myself fulty cognisant of the extreme difficulty that is 
experienced in the satisfactory appointment of Judges by 
our Poultry Show Committees, gleaned as it is from the almost 
daily communications that I even yet receive from Com¬ 
mittees in various parts of the kingdom, urging me to accept 
office as sole arbitrator for their particular meeting. 
Still I unhesitatingly believe this trouble will prove a 
very temporary one if “confederacy,” wherever exposed, is 
openly repudiated. There is not then a doubt, to those who 
may faithfully fulfil this admittedly important and anxious 
duty, that increased credit will redound; and certainly, after 
the dearly-bought experience of the last half dozen years past, 
it would indeed bespeak feelings very uncomplimentary to 
the poultry world to even barely suppose there are not 
numbers of individuals both able and willing to accept and 
fulfil the varied and responsible duties which the office of 
Poultry Judge invariably necessitates, and that, too, con¬ 
sistently, efficiently, and without any leaning whatever 
towards favour or affection. 
As I conceive it the absolute and bounden duty of each 
amateur to do everything in his power to carry out “fair 
play to all,” there certainly ought in every case of com¬ 
plaint, or even misgiving, as to the conduct of any Poultry 
Judge, to be an open accusation preferred, not purposely 
disguised under an anonymous signature, but one affording 
the like opportunities to all parties of publicly proving to 
! the world “ who are right and who are wrong.”— Edward 
Hewitt, Eden Cottage, Sparkbroofc , Birmingham. 
Class 5.— PIGEONS WITH STRANGE VOICE. 
Variety 2.—THE TRUMPETER ( Colvmha 
tympanisans'). 
French. German. 
i Pigeon Glou-Glou Tambour. Trommeltauben. 
The Trumpeter Pigeon is the second variety with a pro¬ 
longed and gurgling voice, and from its fancied resemblance 
