THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 13, 1859. 
168 
in a single instance, and so it should be: this most desirable 
effect has only been produced by the firm determination of our 
principal poultry judges not to compromise the matter in any 
such cases, but disqualify at once from competition. I, for one, 
trust these gentlemen will rigidly persevere in such regulations, 
so as to ensure the prizes being taken at least by honest com¬ 
petition. 
The birds of Mrs. Hall, in the first-prize pen for adults, will 
exhibit far more favourably a month or two to come ; whilst 
Mr. Hyde’s Spanish pullets were most covetable specimens, and, 
doubtless, they will be again heard of in the ranks of the success¬ 
ful. Messrs. Teebay’s and Rake’s Spanish chickens will, if they 
progress favourably, be awkward competitors to shake off at any 
meeting. 
The Orel/ BorJcings were as greatly improved as could be 
imagined, Captain Hornby still keeping a-head, though closely 
elbowed by the “ Silver Greys ” of Mr. Wm. Bromley ; who, in 
pullets of this variety, showed such as any amateur might well 
covet, and were certainly the best of this particular colour ever 
yet exhibited. It is quite evident “ Silver Greys” can now hold 
position, even as to size, with any of the darker colours—a 
feature that only a few seasons since was deemed impracticable. 
Perhaps none of our poultry have improved more rapidly 
during the last two years than the Cochins. They have returned 
entirely to their original characteristics; and it is exceedingly 
questionable whether Messrs. Tomlinson, Stretch, Felton, Cattell, 
Lamb, Chase, and Cartwright, did not exhibit specimens quite 
equal to any ever yet placed before the public eye. 
T1 le Polands were very limited in point of numbers, nor was 
their excellence remarkable; breeders must really use a far greater 
amount of energy if these prizes are to be continued, for these 
classes at present almost invariably entail losses on Poultry 
Committees. It is a great pity that Polands should be thus 
neglected, for they naturally combine the advantages of beautiful 
plumage with great utility. 
Saving the Pencilled varieties, the Hamburghs were not espe¬ 
cially good. In Pencilled ones, however, the Show figured very 
highly. 
Birmingham never before had so good Game classes, and the 
entries for Game Bantams were, undoubtedly, among the best in 
the Show. 
The classes for Single Cocks were all of them well filled with 
the best of birds. 
Among as rich a collection of Pigeons as any ever exhibited, 
either at Birmingham or elsewhere, one of the greatest curiosities 
was Yellow Fantails. This is their first appearance. 
Independently of visitors paying for admission, all the charity 
schools were allowed a view gratuitously, besides the creature- 
comfort of a good bun, to still further increase the happiness of 
each little one. It was a joyous sight, and a step forward to¬ 
wards increased popularity. Great praise is the just due of the 
managers, for the excellent order and regularity carried out in 
every department of this extraordinary meeting.— Chanticleer. 
POULTRY SHOW AT ARUNDEL. 
We believe we are correct in stating that this place is the only 
one where premiums are offered for fat cattle brought into the 
open market. This may account for the great display of beautiful 
Sussex oxen, and for the numbers of people that thronged the 
place on the Christmas market-day—Tuesday, December 6. 
Seeing the hundreds of thousands of money that annually go into 
Sussex in exchange for the poultry sent to London, it is not 
wonderful it should have been deemed necessary to have a Poultry 
Show at the same time. It wa3 held last year for the first time, 
under the patronage of the Duke of Norfolk, who also gives the 
Dorking prizes. The Corn Exchange provides a convenient 
place; and pens of the most approved construction being pro¬ 
vided, it is a comfortable, well-conducted, successful little Show. 
We last week had occasion to notice tho small beginning of Bir¬ 
mingham ; and we believe we shall make some of our readers 
smile when we tell them the birds are received between the hours 
of eight and ten in the morning, they arc judged between ten and 
twelve, the public admitted at the latter hour till two at 6d., aud 
from two to four gratis. At four o’clock all birds are removed. 
It will easily be believed that in this county Dorkings would 
be good ; and thirteen pens that would not have passed unnoticed 
at Biugley Hall were entered. Lady Louisa Thynne gained first 
and second prizes. The three birds in the first-px-ize pen weighed 
251 lbs. The second were nearly as heavy; aud the third, the 
property of Mr. Smith of Littleliampton, were only behind from 
the fact of one pullet being inferior to the others. The Cuckoo 
Dorkings were not numerous, nor were they as large as we 
expected to see them. Mr. Penfold, of Arundel, was the prize- 
taker. These birds have evidently gone out of fashion, or they 
would have been better represented in the county to which they 
belong. The Spanish were excellent, both in the young and in 
the old classes. There were birds shown that need fear no com¬ 
petition. There were twenty-one pens. The Rev. W. G. Holmes 
took first; Mr. W. R. Bull second for adults. Lady Louisa 
Thynne and Mr. Bull were similarly distinguished in chickens. 
Six other pens w'ere commended. This breed is evidently appre¬ 
ciated and understood in this part of the country. Messrs. 
Busliby and Boniface deserved their prizes by the excellence of 
their Game Fowls, especially the former; but some of the exhi¬ 
bitors have to learn that the legs of the fowls composing a pen 
must match, or they cause disqualification. There was also in 
this class a humpbacked hen, spoiling an otherwise meritorious 
pen. It is also necessary to point out that, although this class is 
open to birds of any colour, yet the cock and hens must be of the 
same breed : Black-red hens will not mate a Duekwinged cock. 
There was one class only for every sort of Hamburgh. Mr. 
Isemonger was the prize-taker with Silver-spangles. Here, as at 
many larger shows, drooping and loose combs were far too 
prevalent. The Cochin-Chinas were poorly represented. Mrs. 
Bull gained the prize with white birds. Lady Louisa Thynne 
showed some beautiful Sebrights, which deservedly took a first 
prize. Mr. Blunden was first in Aglesburg Ducks , with very 
good birds ; followed by Mr. Boniface, who had the second prize. 
This pleasant little Show was very fully attended by the gentry 
and others of the neighbourhood and town as soon as it was 
opened; and it was amusing and satisfactory to find how many 
exhibitors made it a sort of trial for the merits of their respective 
birds', many of which are intended to try conclusions on a larger 
scale at the Crystal Palace. 
Messrs. Bull, Harman, Roberts, and Blunden were all at their 
posts; and the exhibition seemed to them, as to the visitors, a 
holiday. Coupled with the Christmas market, it seemed a sort 
of harbinger of the merry time. 
Mr. Baily, Mount Street, Grosvcnor Square, was the Judge. 
MR. WRIGHT’S SPANISH PULLET. 
Mr. Brent’s reply respecting the Spanish pullet is so full of 
absurd suppositions, and bears throughout such an egotistical 
tone, that I cannot refrain from echoing “ Justitia’s ” remarks. 
Why, sir, to my certain knowledge, this pullet is one of three in 
pen 260 (Birmingham Show) at the present moment of my 
writing (November 30tli) ; and as regards Mr. Brent’s arguments 
about the unnoticed change, &c., they are simply the extricating 
wriggles of a netted captive, too ridiculous to obtain credence, 
and too insinuatingly presumptive to create sympathy by those 
who would have received a candid acknowledgment of his error 
as much more satisfactory evidence of his knowledge in these 
matters.—I. II. 
I examined the pullet that Mr. Brent called a cockerel, with 
Mr. Wright at the Crystal Palace Poultry Show, and I am quite 
convinced that it was a pullet, whatever Mr. Brent may say to 
the contrary. I had one myself this season just like it with a 
cock’s tail; but when * she moulted she came out with her tail 
all right.— John Rodbard Rodbaed, Aldwick Court, Wrington, 
near Bristol. 
[Here this controversy may terminate. Mr. Brent thought 
that the pullet was a cockerel, but he seems to have been mis¬ 
taken ; and no one ought to continue to disputo the testimony 
of the owner, sustained as it is by the judgment of Mr. Rodbard, 
and two or three other judges we have consulted.— Eds.] 
BLACK-BREASTED-RED GAME EOWLS. 
Mr. B. P. Brent, at the conclusion of a recent communica¬ 
tion says,—“I have my doubts if Brown-breasted-Reds are a 
pure colour or a composite, some persons use the terms Blaok- 
breasted-Reds, and Black-reds as synonymous. But the first is 
a pure or original colour, while the latter is a cross between Red 
and Black.” With regard to tho Brown-reds, I believe them to 
