338 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, August 25, 1857. 
Turbit which I described in my last chapter, I will endeavour 
to show their difference. The beak of the Owl is more 
hooked, the upper mandible bending over the lower, which, 
combined with their shy and wild nature and their prominent 
bolting eyes, has given rise to their English name of Owl 
Pigeon. The eye, too, is of a pearl or gravel colour, very 
different from the Turbit’s, the head is rounder, and the 
frill rarely so long. The old writers describe it as opening 
and reflecting both ways like a rose, which could not be said 
of the Turbit’s frill. 
The points of the Owl may be enumerated as follows:— 
Beak short and hooked; head round; eye pearl-coloured 
and bolting; gullet well developed; frill rose-shaped; size 
small; general appearance wild ; colour blue or silver, with 
black bars across the wings, and a light powdery cast of 
colour about the neck. I am not aware that this variety is 
known in France, though they have a white variety of 
Turbit, Pigeon Cravate Blanc. The Germans also have 
white and black Moven, but I am not sure which variety 
they belong to. In Belgium they are much used as Carrier 
Pigeons. Les Pigeons Smerles , Court Bees de la province de 
Liege , or, as the Germans say, Die Lutticher brief Tr'ager, are 
of this variety, though perhaps not so highly bred, as they 
are bred there expressly for flying, for which their wild 
nature and excellent home qualities make them well 
suited. Those imported here are known as Short-faced 
Antwerp Carriers. 
Although blue and silver are the chief and best colours 
for the Owl Pigeon, yet other colours, as white, black, or 
even yellow, are sometimes met with, and I have seen some 
recently in London white with black tails. It has been 
recommended that the breeding places for these birds should 
be private and secluded, as from their wild nature they are 
liable to be disturbed.— B. P. Brent. 
MERTHYR-TYDFIL POULTRY SHOW. 
Held on August 19th, 1857. We must reserve our re¬ 
marks until next week. Mr. J. Baily, London, was Judge. 
Chickens and adult birds were classed together. 
Spanish.— First and Second, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. First, Mr. G. 
Warren. Second, R. Forman, Esq. 
Dorkings (White).—First, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. Second, R. For¬ 
man, Esq. 
Dorkings (Coloured).—First, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. Second, Mr. 
D. Williams. First and Second, R. Forman, Esq, 
Cochin-Chinas (White).—Prize, R. Crawshay, Esq. 
Cochin-Chinas (Cinnamon and Buff).—First and Second, R. T. 
Crawshay, Esq. Second, Mr. T. J. Evans. Second, Mr. D. Thomas. 
Cochin-Chinas (Brown).—First, Mr. W. Kedart. Second, R. T. 
Crawshay, Esq. 
Hamburghs (Gold-spangled).—First and Second, Mr. C. Smith. 
First, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. Second, Mr. D. Jones. Highly Com¬ 
mended, Mr. L. Williams. 
Hamburghs (Gold-pencilled).—First, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. Second, 
Mr. J. T. Williams. 
^Polish Fowls (Black and White Crests).—Prize, R. T. Crawshay, 
Polish Fowls (Gold).— Prize, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. 
Polish Fowls (Silver).— Prize, Mr. J. T. Williams. 
Hamburghs (Silver-spangled).—First and Second, R. T. Crawshay, 
Esq. First, Mr. C. Smith. 
Game Fowls (Black-breasted).—First, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. First, 
Mr. L. Williams. Second, Mr. J. Williams. 
Malay. —Prize, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. 
Bantams (White).—Prize, Mr. C. Smith. 
Bantams (Black).-First, Mr. J. T. Williams. Second, Mr. G. 
Warren. ’ 
Bantams (any other variety).—First, B. T. Crawshay, Esq. Second, 
Miss B. Roope. First and Second, Miss G. Joseph. 
Golden Pheasants.— Prize, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. 
MnE^W^Scale'os.—First and Second, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. Second, 
Geese.— Prize, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. 
Roope. KS (Whlte), ~ Fir8t > K - T > Crawshay, Esq. Second, Mr. F. 
Ducks (Muscovy).—Prize, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. 
Ducks (any other variety).-Prize, R. T. Crawshay, Esq. 
Turkeys.— Prize, R. T. Crawsljay, Esq. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Bradford Prize-list. — “With the remarks made by ‘Mrs. 
Cochin ’ you seem wholly to coincide, and think the Bradford Committee 
wrong in having classed all varieties of Cochins and Brahmas together. 
This, at first sight, I must confess, seems an injustice to the Cochin race ; 
but if you, if your curiosity lead you so far, would look through the cata¬ 
logues of the various shows in our neighbourhood where they have been 
classed as you wish, you would find the number of entries, in comparison 
with other sorts, wonderfully small; in fact, in some cases being about 
as many pens as prizes. This being the case, and economy our motto to 
a reasonable extent, we thought it but fair to class them all, along with 
the Brahmas, together. If we are wrong in this (and we hope we are), 
we shall be glad to make an ample apology to ‘Mrs. Cochin,’ and 
promise to treat her better another year.”— One of the Committee. 
[We cannot coincide with you. At Sheffield and elsewhere in the 
north good prizes have brought, and always will bring, numerous ex¬ 
hibitors. If sufficiently tempting prizes cannot be afforded, some classes 
had better be omitted rather than to do injustice to them. No Judge 
can decide satisfactorily which is the best pen out of a mixture of Buff, 
Black, White, and Partridge-coloured Cochin-Chinas.— Ed.] 
Swiss, Mooned, or Half-moon Pigeons (Columbus). — These 
belong to the class of Toys : colour or marking is their only characteristic. 
They are usually of a very pale shade, many times nearly colourless, 
with a dark crescent or half-moon mark on the fore part of the chest, 
and frequently heavily feathered on the feet. Their origin is most 
likely the same as other Toys, an accidental peculiarly-marked Pigeon, 
and by careful breeding the marking has become permanent.—B. P. 
Brent. 
Barb Pigeons (J . S.). —The characteristics of the variety of domestic 
Pigeons known in England as Barbs are a very short and thick beak, 
the shorter and thicker the better, with a small wattle on it; head broad, 
rather angular, and indented ; eyes pearl, and surrounded by a broad circle 
of naked red flesh—the broader and redder it is the more the bird is 
esteemed ; neck moderate, but thin towards the head; pinion feathers 
very long, which give the bird a rather lengthened appearance. For 
further particulars see Cottage Gardener for October 28th, 1856, 
page 70, Vol. XVII.—B. P. B. 
Turkey lost at the Crystal Palace ( J . S.).-We cannot give 
an opinion without knowing all the facts. 
Bath and West of England Poultry Show. —“ It being now 
more than two months since that the Bath and West of England Society 
held their Poultry Show at Newton, and the prizes not yet being all paid, 
I wrote to the Secretary, Mr. J. Kingsbury, of Taunton, and also to the 
Secretary at Bath, Mr. Henry St. John Maule. The latter gentleman refers 
me to Mr. S. Pitman, of Taunton, the Director, to whom I wrote several 
days since, but up to the present time I have received no answer. Will 
you have the goodness to inform me to whom I should apply for the 
money due, as those gentlemen whom I have mentioned do not appear to 
take any interest in the Society’s welfare ? ’’—George Crocker, 23, 
Queen Street, Plymouth. 
[The Bath and West of England Society is too favourably known to 
justify any suspicion of shuffling on their part; but we advise the Society 
to see at once that the grievance complained of is immediately removed. 
Who will show in future at a Society’s Exhibition that has to be coerced 
into payment of its prizes ?— Ed.] 
Sheffield Poultry Show. —The Rev. G. Hustler, Appleton, near 
Tadcaster, took the second prize for adult Dorkings, and not the third 
prize, as stated in our report. 
LONDON MARKETS. —August 24th. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
An excellent supply of both Fruit and Vegetables, fully equal to suit 
the terms of all classes of buyers, which have been numerous during this 
real summer weather. Importations comprise Greengages, Orleans and 
Precoce de Tours Plums, Endive, Artichokes, and Tomatoes; and several 
cargoes of West India Pines, sometimes 40,000 a day, have changed 
hands at the brokers during the past fortnight, the season for which, 
however, will soon be over. 
POULTRY. 
We have little alteration to note. The supply of Grouse is very 
moderate, and the arrivals from Scotland are chiefly made up of old 
birds. 
Large fowls 5s. Od. to 5s. 6d. each. 
Smaller do. 3s. 6d. to 4s. Od. „ 
Chickens.. 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. .. 
Geese .... 6s. Od. to 6s. 6d. 
Ducks.... 3s. Od. to 3s. 6d. 
ff 
)) 
Grouse .... 3s. Od. to 4s. Od. each. 
Pigeons . 8d. to 9d. ,, 
Rabbits.. Is. 4d. to Is. 5d. ,, 
Wild ditto. 8d. to9d. ,, 
Leverets.... 3s. Od. to 4s. Od. ,, 
London: Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester High-street, in 
the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published for the Proprietors 
at The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in 
the Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—August 25, 1857. 
