218 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 17, 1860. 
Dvickwing Is also an original and pure colour. Tins idea is also 
rendered probable from this variety having a longer and more 
abundant plumage, which may arise from the horny tips of the 
feathers of that kind being reduced by domestication to fuller 
feathers in this variety. _ . 
All other colours are regarded as the effect of albinism anc! 
melanism ; and as I am not aware of any wild representative of 
the Brown-breasted Reds, that is my reason for doubting the 
originality of that colour. 
White, Black, and Blue, when unmixed (though not original 
colours), may be called pure colours. 
Although cock-fighters did not regard the colour of Game 
fowls as indicative of purity of breed or courage, yet they had 
distinctive names for every shade and mixture. The Black¬ 
breasted Red (that is the colour of the Gallus Banlciva), is a red 
cock with black breast; but what I understand by a Black-red, 
is a Black cock with some red on the back ; in fact, a cross between 
a Black-brbasted Red and a Black, and marked like the Black 
Brassywings, only having red where they are yellow'. 
Having given this explanation, I shall relinquish the dis¬ 
cussion.—B. P. Brent. 
BIRDS NOT THE EXHIBITOR’S OWN. 
Myself and several brother fanciers have noticed that Bir¬ 
mingham, and also Halifax plate, was taken by partly the same 
birds, although by different exhibitors. 
Firstly, at Birmingham. Mr. Eden took the plate with some 
of his own, coupled, I believe, with some of Mr. Morgan's birds. 
Secondly, at Halifax. Mr. Morgan took the plate with some 
of his own, and, I believe, some of Mr. Eden’s birds. 
Can you or any of your readers inform me whether this is the 
case ? Also, if the practice is correct. Is it not one of the rules 
“ That any exhibitor taking prizes with other than his or her own 
birds shall be excluded from all future competition? ” If you or 
any of your readers can answer the above, I shall esteem it a 
favour.— Shorteaced Red Beard. 
[The writer of this inquiry having sent us his address ; as the 
inquiry is made with due courtesy; and as the subject is import¬ 
ant to all exhibitors, we have no hesitation in inserting it. If 
any exhibitors club together in the manner intimated, we con¬ 
sider it very unfair, and totally at variance with the rule quoted. 
It is in the spirit of the cricket club who, to win a match, picked 
players from ten other clubs.— Eds. C. G.] 
NEW BOOK. 
Diary op the Dairy, Piggery, Poultry Yard, and 
Apiary' for 1860.—This very useful annual, though published 
anonymously, is well known to be prepared by Mr. Warwick, 
editor of the Essex and West Suffolk Gazette, and he need not 
be ashamed of this offspring of his ingenuity. It affords a very 
ready repository for the events and expenses of the four depart¬ 
ments of rural live stock whose tenements are enumerated in the 
title page. But it does more, for it gives a calendar of monthly 
operations, with notes on the diseases of the said livestock, and 
remedial directions. There are also some directions for feeding 
and managing poultry for exhibition. 
WEEDING POULTRY. 
At this time, when walks are being carefully scanned, we feel 
bound to repeat advice we gave la3t year at this time. Do not 
let any consideration induce you to put up a bird with any 
capital defect. Depend upon it, it will appear in the chickens. 
Above all, avoid it in the cocks. A bad comb, crooked back, 
wry tail, faulty leg or claw, or ford feather, is sure to be here¬ 
ditary. Faults are more certainly transmitted than virtues, and 
a defective sire materially interferes with the value of a yard. 
MEETING OF THE PHILOPERISTERON 
SOCIETY. 
The Birmingham and Halifax meetings are over. The great 
bulk of pigeon fanciers and exhibitors are preparing for the trials 
of a fresh campaign, and it has been reserved for the members of 
the above Society to achieve a great triumph at their annual Show 
held at the Freemason’s Tavern, Great Queen Street, London, on 
Wednesday last. 
Many of our readers are acquainted with the admirable 
manner in which everything connect- l with this Society is 
carried out; but to those who are strangers to it, we may say 
that it is the lean ideal of a Pigeon Show, both from the beauty 
of the specimens exhibited, and the manner and condition in 
which they were shown. 
On entering the room, on the right was Mr. Wicking’s col¬ 
lection ranged in several pens. The Jacobines, Yellow Owls and 
Turbits were much admired in the first cage, and with them was a 
very handsome mottled Trumpeter. The next cage contained 
specimens of Turbits of different colours. A pen of Swallows, of 
four shades, Reds, Yellows, Blues, and Blacks, was much noticed ; 
and then came a cage of Blue, Red, Black, and YYllow Magpies 
admired by every one. The collection of Owls and Balds belong¬ 
ing to this gentleman was, as usual, very good, and the clean¬ 
liness of the plumage of all his birds was generally remarked. 
Mr. Bult’s Powtei’s occupied the end of the Hall; the centre pens 
were occupied by his White birds, which seemed to consider the 
admiration they received as their right. Some Yellow and Black 
Jacobines in a small pen belonging also to Mr. Bult showed much 
good breeding. There were also some very large Powters con¬ 
tributed by a Halifax fancier, among them a pair of Blacks, of 
great size. Messrs. Percivall and Archer sent Tumblers; the 
former an unusually good Almond hen, and some good Kites. Mr. 
Harrison Weir’s White Fantails were all that could be desired. 
His Blues, however, were too crowded in their pens to show to 
advantage. There were some Fantails said to be Almonds, but 
they require much more richness in their ground colour before 
they are worthy of their name. One pair of Archangels only 
appeared. The Carriers were grand. A young Black bird be¬ 
longing to Mr. Oliver promised to be perfection ; and Mr. Hayne’s 
birds were, as they always are, very superior. Two pairs of 
Suabians, one Porcelain, and a pair of very ugly blue Pigeons, 
with white heads, made rather a motley pen. One cage of Barbs 
only was exhibited. It contained one or two very good birds ; 
but the Yellow hens were deficient in head properties and coarse 
in feather. The Hall w r as crowded all the time of the Show, and 
the meeeting is considered the most successful yet held. 
Ten Thousand Dollars made in a Year from Eighteen- 
Swarms of Bees. —We have from reliable authority the fol¬ 
lowing account of remarkable success (pecuniary) in raising 
bees in this State. A gentleman in one of the valleys near the 
bay last year purchased 18 hives of bees, for which he paid 
1800 dols. From these 18 hives he had 101 swarms, and he 
has sold 100 of the swarms for 100 dols. each, thus realising 
the snug sum of 10,000 dols. in one-year. Hr still lias on 
hand 19 swarms, one more than he commenced with! So 
much for bees.— (California Farmer.) 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Turkeys at Birmingham. —J. M. is assured that we did not intend to 
suggest that her Turkeys were too fat. We know hei birds, and we have 
heard that the management is good ; hut we have not the slightest know¬ 
ledge whether they were weighed at Birmingham, or on what grounds the 
Judges there awarded the prizes. 
Egos in Wintkr (Louisa ).— The fact of your hens being “ from two or 
four years old,” renders patent the cause of your having no eggs in winter. 
Two or three hens only for hatching purposes, and all the others early 
pullets, should be the stock of those who wish for a good winter-supply 
of eggs. Y'our diet for your poultry is too good; less barley and no 
“ scraping from the kitchen ” would be better. The range over sixty 
acres of meadow will give the fowls enough animal food in the form of 
insects—the best of all forms for poultry. 
Roup {A Constant Reader).— Exposure to wet and cold after roosting 
in a warm, ill-ventilated house, is a very usual cause. Try one grain of 
powdered sulphate of copper daily, mixed in oatmeal made into a mash 
with ale. Separate the roupy fowl from the others, keep it from exposure 
to cold and wet, and let it have plenty of green food. Wash the head twice 
daily with tepid water. If not better in a week, kill it. If you bought 
our “Poultry Book for the Many,” you would for sixpence have infor¬ 
mation on all these points. 
Loss of Wing-feathers in Bullfinches (Forth Lincoln ).—You may 
at once dismiss from your mind the idea of any one desiring to spite you by 
plueking out the wing-feathers of the bullfinches. It is no uncommon 
thing for cage birds to take a sudden fright and beat themselves against 
the wires of their cages at night and knock out their feathers, and make 
tbeir pinions bleed. I once had reared a nest of young bullfinches, and 
taking out the slide to clean the cage so frightened them that one dropped 
down and died from the fright in a few seconds.— B. P, Brent. 
Grounb Oats (0. Jl .).— When oats are ground for poultry food, the 
bran, or chaff, as you call it, should not he bolted or sifted out. Merely 
have the oats ground, and not dressed. 
