240 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 12, 1858. 
as the Judges can always have the power to withhold a prize, 
if they do not deem the birds sufficiently meritorious. 
This year I intend to offer, at some local Exhibition, a 
prize for Piles, or Duckwings, or some other variety of 
Bantams, providing the Committee will offer an equal prize 
for Black-breasted or other Reds, or some such arrangement 
as we may decide upon w T hen the time comes ; and I hope to 
see others doing the same. 
I should be glad if you would, at the foot of this, state your 
views; as I fancy a few words from a quarter which stands so 
high in the poultry world, will add much weight to anything 
brought forward by private subscribers.—S. H. 
[There are various considerations which must regulate the 
prizes given at Exhibitions. The principal one of those con¬ 
siderations is the funds of the Society. If the exhibitors of 
Bantams, taken altogether, contribute as much to the Society’s 
funds as the aggregate of exhibitors in any other class, that 
is a substantial reason for the prizes given being alike for the 
two classes. Poultry exhibitions ought to have, however, a 
higher object than the reward of mere beauty; and we can¬ 
not give as our opinion, that Bantams merit for their im¬ 
provement such rewards as ought to be given to the improvers 
of Dorkings, Turkeys, and Geese. It is a national benefit— 
and adding to its resources, increasing the weight of these : 
and we cannot say breeding the most perfect of Bantams, 
however beautiful, deserves an equal reward, as does increasing 
the food of a nation. We refrain from further remarks, be¬ 
cause a suggestion has just reached us which may lead to a 
different arrangement of prizes at Poultry Shows.— Ed. C. G.] 
PIGEON'S. 
TOYS. 
Variety 10.—THE SPOT (Columba Maculata.) 
French. German. 
Pigeon Heurte. Die Bbesz Taube. 
The Spot is one of our oldest-established Toy Pigeons, and 
very widely diffused. It is supposed to have been first in¬ 
troduced into this country from Holland. The name is derived 
from a coloured spot on the head. 
In size, form, and manners, they resemble the common 
dove-house Pigeons. They are pretty, very productive, and 
well adapted to find their living in the fields. They are some¬ 
times turn-crowned, though generally smooth-headed, and 
clean footed ; the eye is dark, the upper mandible is also dark, 
and the lower white ; on the front of the head, above the 
beak, is an oval coloured spot, from which they derive their 
name; and the tail is also coloured; the rest of the plumage is 
a clear white. Spot and tail are of the same colour, either 
black, blue, red, or yellow; and they are designated Black, 
Blue, or Red Spots, according to the colour of spot and tail, 
which are alike. 
A sub-variety is sometimes met with, with the spot only 
coloured, the tail being white, like the rest of the plumage : but ! 
these are but little regarded, as they are supposed to be bred 
from a Spot, and some other white Pigeon. 
Variety 11.—THE WHITE SPOT. 
German. Die Weiszblessige Taube. 
The White-spot reverses the marking of the preceding: it j 
is a coloured Pigeon with a white spot. 
In Saxony, and some parts of Germany, they are very plenti- ! 
ful; a few have been brought to this country, but I have not 
seen or heard of any in France. 
In shape, make, and habits, they much resemble the dove- 
house Pigeon; but are a little smaller, more slightly made, j 
rather more active, and wilder, and willingly beat out into ; 
the fields for their living: their feet are frequently slightly 
feathered. 
The upper-half of the bill should be white, while the lower j 
is dark; above the beak they have an oval white spot; and 
the tail is also white, the rest of the plumage being coloured. 
Herr Gottlob Neumeister, informs us, this breed of Pigeons 
are bred of two or three extra markings, as, for instance, whole 
coloured bodies, with white wing-bars; and also with spangled 
shoulders. He arranges them in five classes, or sub-varieties 
as follows:— 
1st. The Black White-spot, without or with white wing- j 
bars, and also with spangled shoulders, (“ Karpfens-chup - 
penartigen FliigelnT ) 
2nd. The Blue White-spot, with the same markings as the 
first. 
3rd. The Red White-spot, without wing-bars, &c. : colour, 
a fine copper-red. , 
4th. The Yellow White-spot, also without wing-bars, &c. : 
colour, a brownish yellow. 
5th. The Copper-shouldered White-spot: in these, the 
colour is dark-slate colour; the neck has an olive-green gloss; 
the scapular feathers and the wings are a dark s hin ing copper- ! 
red; the under parts are of a paler slate colour. 
In Germany, both varieties of Spots are sometimes called 
<c Mqpken Tauten ,” or Masked Pigeons.— B. P. Brent. 
, OUR LETTER BOX. 
Indian Corn—Spanish Fowls (A. S. B.). —If chickens are fed 
entirely on Indian meal they become very fat; but they make neither 
bone nor hard flesh as they should do—or as they would, if fed on 
oatmeal. Adults fed on it become enormously fat, especially inside, and 
frequently die from it. This fat melts away in cooking: and the lean ; 
of an animal fed on it is hard and badly flavoured. Numerous experi- i 
ments have been tried on poultry, and this is the invariable result: — I 
the white face is the point of a Spanish fowl; but it must be allied with ' 
longish taper legs, fine plumage, proper comb and carriage, and the 
tapering body of the breed. A white face on an ordinary black hen 
would not make a Spanish fowl. Having once attained the white face, 
the bird never loses it but at moulting time, or if chased for the purpose 
of catching. There will often be seen a little mixture of red. There is 
hope that a hen a year old will outgrow a red streak. It is common for 
them to do so : but not so with a cock of the same age. Experience 
tells us such is a hopeless case. You may as well try to wash an 
Ethiopian till he is white, as to make a red-faced Spanish fowl assume 
the same colour—it is an impossibility. There are, doubtless, processes 
by which a more decided or a more beautiful colour may be attained; 
but it cannot be preserved. Say, for instance, that heat is employed: 
and that an amateur in Yorkshire carefully coddles his fowls till they j 
are as pale as children subjected to the same process ; and then, let J 
them travel all night to the Crystal Palace in the frost and cold. Their | 
pale faces will be as purple as an errand boy’s, when he stops to tell ! 
his grievances to a kindred spirit, and breathes on his fingers to keep 
them warm. 
LONDON MARKETS. —January 11th. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
Our supplies continue abundant, and prices ruled moderate accord- 
ingly; the late frost having very little influenced us. Pears now 
comprise Beurre Ranee, Raster Beurre, Knight's Monarch, Ne plus 
Meuris, and some few Col mas ; but the latter variety has not ripened 
well. Hothouse Grapes are excellent, and in unusual abundance ; 
.realizing from 6s. to 8s. per lb.: some of which are still being sent from 
Jersey. Waterside reports speak of dulness in the Potato trade; but 1 
prices have not receded during the week. 
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.—January 12, 1858. * 
