260 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 2, 1859. 
are dividable again into throe sub-groups or families, each con¬ 
taining several varieties. 
The first' of these are the Spanish fowls, one of our most 
fashionable and esteemed breeds ; but I am at a loss to under¬ 
stand why only one variety of this breed is patronised, seeing 
that there are others. I think it but common justice that this 
breed should have as many classes as any of the other breeds. 
In furtherance of this view, I would give them four classes. 
First, Black Spanish; second, White ; third, Blue; fourth, any 
other colour or variety. 
Then follow the Top-knotted or Crested breeds. Although 
all these have crests of feathers on their heads, and have been 
usually regarded as only sub-varieties of one breed, yet I am 
inclined to believe there are three distinct breeds, or varieties, 
each containing many sub-varieties. 
These three varieties I refer to are:—First, the crested fowls 
with feathered feet, as the Sultans; the beardless-crested fowls, 
as the St. Jago , or Black-crested White; and the bearded-crested 
fowls as the so-called Golden and Silver Polish. Therefore, 
without being so liberal to them as to the other breed, I cannot 
compress them into less than seven classes. 
FIRST FAMILY GROUP. 
First, the White Sultan, or Serai TdooTc. Second, any other 
variety of feather-footed crested fowls, as the tailless-crested 
fowl, or Ghondook ; and, although it may seem anomalous, yet 
I think the combless and crestless Guelderlands belong to this 
family group. 
SECOND FAMILY GROUP. 
First, the White-crested Black fowl. Second, any other 
variety of beardless, clean-legged, crested fowls, as the Black- 
breasted White ; the old Golden-spangled (i.e., white crests and 
white spangles), the 'White-crested Blue, and the beardless 
White, &c. 
THIRD FAMILY GROUP. 
First, the Golden-laced or Pheasant-marked ( spangled) ; 
bearded and crested fowl (Polish). Second, the Silver-laced, 
or Pheasant-marked <spangled) ; bearded and crested fowl 
(Polish). Third, any other variety of bearded and crested fowl, 
with which may be included the old bearded and crested Ham¬ 
burgh of the old writers, and the similar breeds variously known 
as Russian Muffles, Siberian Pheasant fowls, Jews, and French 
Muffles. 
1 am not sufficiently acquainted with the French Creve Cosur, 
to decide if it belongs to the second or third family group of 
crested fowls. 
Lastly, among the Non-sitters come the rose-combed prolific 
layers. These seem all to owe their descent from the Silver- 
pencilled fowl, known variously as the Turkish fowl, Corsican, 
Butch evety-day-layer, or Butch Pencilled fowl, and from which 
have sprung seven or eight very distinct sub-varieties, which, in 
time, have become local celebrities ; and, strange to say, though 
these are essentially English, they have lately all been named 
Hamburghs. I think that on account of their English origin, 
their rose-combs, and their rival countries,—the name of York 
and Lancaster Roses, or simply Roses,—would be far preferable. 
To do these Rival Roses, or Hamburghs, justice, they require 
nine classes:— 
First, Silver-pencilled, ns being the original variety of the 
breed. Second, the Golden-pencilled. Third, Yorkshire Golden 
Pheasants. Fourth, Yorkshire Silver Pheasants. Fifth, Red¬ 
caps. Sixth, Creoles, or White-necked Silver Pheasant fowls. 
Seventh, Golden Moonies. Eighth, Silver Moonies, or Captain 
Cranmer’s dark-necked Silver Pheasant fowls ; and Ninth, Black, 
White, or any other variety of the rosy-combed everlasting 
layers.— B. P. Brent. 
(To be continued.) 
BEES WORKING UNDER THE FLOOR-BOARD. 
“ I have a common old-fashioned butt of bees which I hoped 
would have swarmed this season. For the last two weeks they 
have been hanging below the board ; and on looking a day or two 
ago I discovered they had made a large piece of comb under the 
board, and were working well. I have reversed a straw Bkip and 
fixed it to the board. 
“ Would you advise me to leave them to work all the rest of 
the summer, or take it off in September, as I want the bees to 
swarm early next year in order to put them in a better hive ? ”— 
An Old Subscriber, North Petherton. 
[Your stock of bees had better be left undisturbed working 
beneath the floor-board for the remainder of the season, when the 
combs may be removed. The stock hive being filled, it would 
have been well had you placed it upon an eke, or given additional 
storing room in some other way, early in the honey-gathering 
season. When pressed for space it is not unusual for the bees to 
betake themselves to the nearest adjacent spot for the necessary 
accommodation, and they will readily go either upwards or down¬ 
wards.] 
BEES MAKING COMBS WITHOUT 
CLUSTERING. 
Some writers seem to think that bees can neither secrete wax 
nor build combs without clustering. I may have already men¬ 
tioned that they can do both, and observed that the greater part 
of combs formed in the additional room in strong hives are made 
by the bees working upwards instead of the usual way—down¬ 
wards. When so at work they seldom cluster, and the materials 
are ejected from their mouths, and masticated in the same manner 
as when they work up old wax. Perhaps the whole of the 
materials used in sealing up the cells are obtained in that way. 
This last idea is rather new to me; and I was led to it only 
lately by having observed them in the act of closing up their cells. 
In good seasons the quantity of wax required for this purpose 
is, perhaps, more than some imagine. This is readily known 
by the difference of produce of wax from sealed and unsealed 
combs. It is a question, however, wliat becomes of the broken 
remains of wax. Perhaps a part of them is attached to the 
edges, or mouths, of the cells, and crumbs which fall about 
the hive are used again for the same purpose in the following 
season. In favour of this I have to observe that if old combs 
were sealed up with fresh deposits of wax, the mouths of the 
cells would, of course, appear nearly as light as new ones. How¬ 
ever, those who doubt that bees can work or secrete wax without 
clustering, have only to observe them working upwards in bell- 
glasses, or even in the common way during very hot weather. 
In such cases they proceed somewhat like humble bees, which 
never cluster when building combs. I strongly suspect that 
these have not the power to secrete wax through the segments 
under their abdomens, but eject it from their mouths similarly 
to the other way I have described, speaking of hive bees. 
I may note, that to-day (July 12th), the thermometer stood at 
88° in the shade at about three o’clock. Likewise, that I have 
heard of the honey running out of a Neighbour’s hive, owing to 
the combs collapsing from the effects of hot sunshine. I need 
hardly observe that shading would prevent such calamities.— 
J. WlGHTON. 
BEES USING OLD WAX. 
My experience of this summer goes far to confirm what Mr. 
Wighton has lately advanced respecting bees constructing combs 
of old wax. 
I had a swarm placed in a hive, at the top of which I fixed a 
large piece of old comb as a guide to commence upon, but which, 
from the weight of the swarm I suppose, fell down on the hive- 
board, where I allowed it to remain. It has gradually disap¬ 
peared under the efforts of the bees, and now only a very small 
portion remains; meanwhile the combs they have built have a 
dark band, two inches deep along the top, the colour of the 
old wax. 
During the last few days the bees in this neighbourhood have 
been working vigorously, and if this weather continue, will, 
doubtless, make up for the loss of time occasioned by the cold 
winds so prevalent earlier in the summer.— A IYhjng Apiarian. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Moulting (J. M. K .).—IVe do not advise you to pull out the sickle 
feathers of your Game cock ; let them fall in the ordinary way, and he will 
moult new ones. A tail should never he pulled out, as it is considered the 
most exhausting part of the plumage to reproduce. This bird has moulted 
all his feathers hut the sickles. These were produced about four months 
since after being lost accidentally. 
Drooping Comb or Spanish Cockerkl (T. /'. JT .).—There is no remedy 
while the bird is very young, and the comb soft; but when it has nearly 
attained its growth, the position of the comb may be changed by fastening 
it with silver wire in that which is desired. It is not a difficult nor a long 
operation, if the comb is smooth and even ; but if there is a hollow, like a 
thumb-mark in it, just above the head, it will be a long time altering its 
shape. 
