THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 23, 1858. 
the single cock at the Crystal Palace was claimed for that 
sura. It would be tedious to go through the list of all the 
different breeds, but the same result will be found every¬ 
where. Who does not admire the beautiful Game Bantams; 
yet, had there been no Shows, we should not have had them. 
! When we say that the burden should fall principally on the 
exhibitor, we think the foregoing facts satisfactorily prove 
: that, if he desires to follow his hobby without loss, the way 
' to do it is to support Shows liberally. 
The institution of the single Game Cock class at Liverpool 
has caused much reflection among all interested in Exhibi¬ 
tions, and the proposition is now freely mooted, that those 
classes should have the greatest amount of prizes offered to 
them who contribute most to the support of the Show. The 
most numerous everywhere are the Dorking, Spanish, and 
Game. Unless the new class for colour at Liverpool should 
be continued, the Dorkings will not require the numerous 
classes common to other breeds; and the consequence in 
many places will be, that a breed contributing an eighth of 
the entries will only have the same amount of prize money 
offered as some little class, where the competitors will be 
barely numerous enough to provide prize takers. The same 
may be said of the Spanish. The different .varieties of the 
Game fowls improve their position, inasmuch as they mul¬ 
tiply the prizes offered for them. There is no doubt that 
different places require different prize list§ ; because where a 
Show is dependent principally on local support, and a certain 
breed is in force there, all encouragement should be given to 
it: it will not only produce entries, but it will bring visitors. 
We do not, therefore, wish to infer that one rule may be laid 
down for all, but at the request of many of our readers we 
start the question—Cannot the prizes offered for competition 
be so altered, as to give the largest amount to the most 
numerous classes ? It will remain to be settled, whether the 
number or the amount of the prizes shall be altered, but we 
must think the present arrangements anomalous : one breed 
will contribute one hundred entries (say at 6s. each), £30; 
prizes offered, £21: another sends twenty-five entries, £710s.; 
and from the divisions of colour will have £25 allotted as 
j prize money. 
GOLDEN MOONIES AT PRESTON. 
In despair I appeal to all amateurs, breeders, and exhi- 
! bitors of Golden Moonies, for information as to the points of 
the cock. 
During several years I have studied this variety, raised 
hosts of chickens, and purchased at the highest prices speci¬ 
mens, which I have believed to possess the points which would 
recommend them as candidates for honours, success flattering 
me that my selections were made with judgment. 
At the late Liverpool Show I exhibited, in the class of 
i Single Cocks, a young bird, bred from the finest fowls of the 
best known and purest strains, and possessing the following 
points :—A mooned breast, well-defined bars on the wings, 
the wing coverts properly spangled at the points, the hackle 
a green black through the shafts of the feathers and fringed 
| with a brilliant golden red, the saddle a rich maroon, the 
ground colour perfectly uniform of the brightest copper tint, 
■ and the earlobe as white as snow; indeed, the only fault which 
has been alleged against him by breeders, whose opinion I 
1 have asked, is that his comb is rather large. Such as I have 
described him, he recommended himself to the Judges’ good 
opinion, and won the Cup ; at Preston, however, he had to 
strike his colours to a bird which, at the former Show, was 
not considered worthy of a commendation; and must be 
faithfully described, in order to obtain an opinion of the 
respective merits of the two fowls. His breast (with the 
exception of streaks of red of no definite form) is black, his 
bars are very heavy (more so than has ever been seen in a 
Mooney Cock), his hackle is very dark (the lower feathers 
j being black), his saddle the darkest maroon, his earlobe large 
and white, and his comb crooked with a deep cavity in the 
top. 
What puzzles me still more, and makes the future of my 
favourite variety so very uncertain, is that in the class where 
a cock and two hens were shown, the cock in the pen to 
j which the Silver Cup was awarded (Mr. Chune’s) had a very 
crooked comb, breast almost black, and earlobes far from 
white, whereas the cock in the third prize pen had a breast as 
beautifully laced as that of a Sebright Bantam. 
I sincerely hope that some kind and experienced friend of 
the Moonies will give me the information I seek, as my case 
is really pitiable. I have a number of beautiful fowls, but 
am prevented exhibiting them at Wellington, not knowing 
what to show. 
The exhibitors of Game fowls have pleaded hard, and 
obtained separate Judges : might not the exhibitors of Ham- 
burghs with great propriety request, that the prizes be 
awarded in future by persons, at least, cognizant of the points 
of merit, and able to distinguish one sub-varietyfrom another? 
—W. C. Wobrall, 6, Lower Castle-street , Liverpool. 
[Some of our readers will require to be informed, that 
“ Golden Mooney ” is the north-country name for the Golden- 
spangled Hamburgh. 
As to whether the Judges were right or wrong in their 
decision, now called in question, we can give no opinion; 
but it strikes us that our correspondent says nothing about 
the condition of his birds : condition, if very superior, ought 
to outweigh many minor short-comings. However, if the 
Judges choose either to defend their awards, or to give any 
explanation, our columns are open to them ; but do not let 
them consider, that we advise them to do so ; on the contrary, 
we think that a Judge creates a bad precedent who descends 
into a public arena, to defend his awards. No one will act as 
Judge, if called upon to write in defence of his decisions; 
yet every Judge would have to do so, if the practice be sanc¬ 
tioned ; for rarely does an Exhibition occur, without some 
loser at it writing to us complaining of the injustice he has 
suffered.— Ed.] 
PERCHES. 
In reply to your correspondent, who asks for advice con¬ 
cerning Perches, I will answer his question—first, as to the 
style of Perches ; and then, as to the height it is desirable to 
keep them from the floor. 
I have frequently seen it recommended to use lengths of 
scaffold poles, spht in two ; but I cannot see the reason for 
splitting them, unless it be to make one into two: in my 
houses they are placed up whole, not less than four inches in 
diameter, and I find the fowls always get to the largest end. 
They do not want to hold on by one leg all night, as some 
people imagine; but rest their body on it, as “An Inquirer” 
will soon find, if he visits their roosts at night. 
As to the height it is desirable to place Perches from the 
ground, there are two objections to fixing them high. First, 
because fowl houses are seldom made sufficiently large to 
enable the birds to make that long inclined flight, so necessary 
for a heavy bird when descending. Second, because we all 
know that impure air rises; consequently, it must be purer 
near the ground. “ An Inquirer ” says, “ Study their 
natural inclinations as far as practicable; ” and provided his 
roosts are sufficiently large, I see no reason why they should 
not be within two feet of the roof; but mine are not more 
than three feet from the floor, and my birds never attempt to 
fly higher when once used to them, although they are Ham¬ 
burgh fowls.—E. D. B. 
SOUTH-EAST HANTS POULTRY SHOW. 
This was held at Fareham yesterday, and to-day: there 
were 200 pens. Mr. Tegetmeier acted as Judge. 
Spanish. —First, H. Hutson, Ituncton House, Chichester. Second, 
P. r. Cother, Salisbury. Birds of 1857.—First, J. R. Rodbard, Aldwick 
Court, Langford, near Bristol. Second, C. E. Coleridge, Eton College, 
Windsor. 
Dorkings (Coloured).—First, C. Smith, Durnford, near Salisbury. 
Second ,S. Lewry, Ashington Common, near Steyning. Highly Com¬ 
mended, C. Dorrien, Ashdean Tower, near Chichester. Birds of 1857. 
—First, Mrs. General Frederick, Shawford House, Winchester. Second, 
C. Smith, Durnford, near Salisbury. Highly Commended, G. Chad- 
win, Tollard Royal, Salisbury. Commended, Mrs. Pettat, Ashe Rectory, 
Micheldcver. (A very good class.) 
Dorkings (White).—First, C. James, Fareham. Second, Capt. Beard- 
more, Uplands, Fareham. Birds of 1857.—First, Capt. Beardmore, 
Uplands, Fareham. Second, C. Dorrien, Ashdean Tower, near Chiches¬ 
ter. Highly Commended, R. James, Wallington, Fareham. 
Cochin-China (Coloured).—First Prize, H. Loe, 39, High Street, Win- 
