269 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 26, 1858. 
to secure them. The other prizes were cups, inkstands, 
sugar-vase, &c., all of the full value of the money awarded. 
As this class was the greatest novelty, we will treat of it 
first. It is needless to say that all the best birds in England 
weie here, and that the country was ransacked to find winners. 
It was a singular sight: the whole of one side of the building 
was devoted to them. And as we gazed upon them—high- 
couraged and highly-conditioned birds of every shade — we 
were at no loss to account for the love of our forefathers for 
this breed. There is another peculiarity belonging to it; 
and that is, that at all times and places, these birds are 
shown in perfect condition. We do not, however, mean to 
say that all are alike in this respect; and in the sifting to 
which this class was exposed in being judged, it fared ill 
with those that were in any respect faulty. Perfection was 
required: and many a bird that had never before met his 
superior was here obliged to strike his colours. Black¬ 
breasted Reds were more numerous than any others; but 
there were excellent Red-breasted, and some beautiful Duck- 
wings. Among the varieties produced by this new class, we 
may mention a Game cock with large protruding feathers on 
each side of the face, forming, as it were, whiskers; and 
another with wings so accurately barred and laced, that they 
excited the envy of many a Spangled Hamburgh breeder. 
The prizes kept in the north-west; six out of the seven 
remaining in Liverpool and its neighbourhood. The i!40 
tankard was awarded to Mr. J. Armstrong; the T20 to 
Capt. Hornby; the T15 to the Hon. W. W. Vernon : all these 
were to Black-breasted Reds. The T10 to Mr. Armstrong for 
a beautiful Duckwing. Messrs. Sergencson, Armstrong, and 
Hindson took a £5 prize each, with, two Black-breasted and 
one Red-breasted Red. Nothing could exceed the beauty 
I and the condition of these birds ; every point in them was 
i perfect, and most of them old winners. The T40 prize 
bird has been several times successful in similar classes of 
late. From the complete reussite of this experiment, we 
have no doubt the classes will become popular, and that an 
impetus will be given to Game breeding, which will make 
it more followed than it is even now. 
The next novelty was a class for Silver Dorkings. The 
entries in this were very creditable for a first essay ; but we 
must confess to a slight feeling of disappointment, at seeing 
so many pens, evidently disqualified by having birds that 
did not come up to the requirements of the prize list. Thus, 
while it was distinctly stated thereon, that black tails were 
essentially necessary, many birds were shown with partially 
white ones, and some with semi-brown patches on the 
wings and saddles. In this, as in all other things, ex¬ 
perience will, doubtless, teach those who called for the class ; 
and it is with that view only, we speak in what might other¬ 
wise appear a hypercritical spirit. We will now review this 
excellent Show, taking the classes as they occur. 
The Spanish were very good, but we were sorry to see Mr. 
Botham’s pen empty. Miss Rake bore off the principal 
prize—a piece of plate of ten guineas. Mr. Brundrit was 
second, and Mr. Moss third. These were all unusually 
meritorious. 
On looking at the next, the question was often asked— 
What is the limit of size in a Dorking fowl? The Rev. G. 
| Hustler must tell us what his birds weighed. We doubt 
l whether they were as heavy as the second prize of Captain 
Hornby’s, but they were in better condition. The Revds. S. 
Donne, John Hill, and the Earl of Sefton, also deserve 
mention, for capital pens. We have already spoken of the 
Silver Greys ; but it will be necessary to mention the prize- 
takers. They were, Capt. Hornby, cup; Mr. Ullock, and 
j Lord Hill. 
We have not for years seen so good a show of adult 
Cochins. They were more than excellent ; and Messrs. 
Ashton, Stretch, and Cattell, may boast with good right. 
We may echo the assertion, in speaking of the Grouse , 
Partridge, and White classes. All the Cochins were not 
only meritorious for size and condition, but they were free 
from those errors of choice or judgment that often make 
disqualifications numerous. Certain breeds favour certain 
Shows. Thus, while Brahmas are always numerous at the 
Crystal Palace, they present but a small list at Birmingham 
and Liverpool; but nothing can affect the entries in the Game 
classes. Every one you meet in this country, is more or less 
an amateur, and interested in them. We believe that, if in 
addition to the class for a hundred Game Cocks, there were j 
others for pullets, and hens only, that still the general classes 
would fill. Our readers will not, then, be surprised to hear j 
there were ninety-five pens in the different classes ; and of 
these, Black-breasted Reds contributed forty-five. It seemed 
to afford much pleasure to every one, that Lord Sefton 
gained the cup for this last breed; and he was followed by 
a well-known name, Mr. Wright, of Widnes, formerly of 
Dorking celebrity; btit, as some would say, he lias descended 
to Game. Mr. Lowe, of Comberford, was third. Eleven 
other pens figured in the prize list. 
There were some unusually good White and Piles. The 
Duckwings were, however, superior to them, and drew from 
the Judges the declaration that they were an excellent class. 
Nothing could exceed the beauty of the first prize pen of 
these birds, the property of Mr. Moss. They seemed to tread 
daintily. Will our readers laugh, if we, who are now tole¬ 
rably steeled to reporting, draw upon our imagination to 
describe them. They are of faultless beauty, perfect 
symmetry, and had an aristocratic bearing and appearance, 
that entirely gained them the good graces of all who saw 
them. The cock’s head was the perfection of beauty, and 
might serve as a model; and, although all the birds in the 
pen were apparently so delicate in their proportions, yet 
they were hard in feather, and good in hand. 
Mr. Worrall’s Golden-pencilled Hamburghs richly deserved 
the cup they won ; and there were many birds of great beauty 
in the class. Success must soon become monotonous to Mr. 
Archer, in Silver-pencilled: —for the third time, within these 
seven weeks, he has taken every prize in the class. Messrs. 
Cox and Wright showed first-rate birds. Mr. Lane took the 
cup for Golcl-spangles, followed by Mr. W. C. Worrall, and 
Mr. Ruttlidge. Mr. John Robinson showed a most excellent 
pen of Silver-spangles. There is great improvement in these 
birds; and the Judges, with a Spartan brevity, differing from 
their late, “excellent,” “marvellous,” and “unusually 
good,” appended one note of general application—“ all the 
Hamburgh classes are good.” The Polands were, as usual, 
excellent, but not numerous ; and afforded an uninterrupted 
triumph to Mr. Greenall, followed by Messrs. Bush, Brun¬ 
drit, Batty, and Ray. The Various showed White Dorkings, 
Black Hamburghs, Malays, Sultans, and Silkies. The prizes 
went to the two first. We have to repeat here, as elsewhere, 
that the Game Bantams were far more numerous than any 
others ; they were not more meritorious, for all were very 
good. Mr. Harvey Dutton Bayley, gained the cup, closely 
run by Mr. Townley Parker. Mr. W. Worrall showed two 
hens, which, if matched, bid fair to place him in Bantams, 
in the place he has occupied so long in Hamburghs. The 
Ducks were unusually good. Mr. Fowler carried off the cup, 
with a wonderful pen of Aylesburys ; they were distinguished 
among good ones. We have again to petition for a separate 
class for the Buenos Ayrean Ducks. They deserve it, both 
for numbers and quality. The length of our report, will be 
our apology for merely mentioning the Single Cock classes. 
The Spanish were very good, but the Dorking and Cochins 
were the best we have seen for a long time. 
The gentlemen forming the Committee were, as usual, 
active, obliging, and painstaking. Mr. W. Worrall, in the 
absence of his brother Secretary, was indefatigable. It is 
due to Mr. Moss to say that there was one universal ex¬ 
pression of sympathy with him in his recent bereavement 
and illness, and earnest desire for his complete recovery. 
Thus closed the comfortable and capital Show of 1808 at 
Liverpool. May many more such follow it. 
There were no divisions into adults and chickens. Birds 
of any age were admitted into all the classes. 
Spanish.— Cup, Miss M. L. Rake. Second, W. W. Brundrit. Third. 
J. Armstrong. Highly Commended, J. H. Craigie, Miss M. L. Rake, 
and J. Busst. Commended, J. Garlick. 
Dorkings (Coloured).—Cup, Rev. G. Hustler. Second, Capt. W. W. 
Hornby, R.N. Third, Rev. S. Donne. Highly Commended, Rev. S. 
Donne, Rev. J. Hill, and the Earl of Sefton. Commended, A. Potts. 
(A very good class.) 
Dorkings (Silver Greys).—Cup, Capt. VV. W. Ilornby, R.N. Second, 
T. Ullock. Third, Lord Hill. (Many of the pens in this class were 
meritorious, but sufficient care had not been taken in selecting them 
according to instructions.) 
Cochin-China (Cinnamon and Buff).—Cup, R. E. Ashton. Second, 
T. Stretch. Third, J. Cattell. (An unusually good class.) 
Cochin-China (Brown and Partridge).—Cup and Second, P. Cart¬ 
wright. Third, H. Tomlinson. Highly Commended, H. Churchill, 
