142 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 30, 1858. 
Starling.— Prize, II. Henton, 308, Rotherhitlie Street, Rotherhithe. 
Words spoken by the bird—Jacob, in several different ways; calls the 
fowls and dogs; imitates the Canary, and whistles^ ‘ The Oyster Girl.” Is 
very tame. 
Buntings. —No entry. 
Jay. —None exhibited. 
Magpie. —Prize, V. G. Dutton, Lydiard House, Swindon. 
Jackdaw. — No entry. 
Any other variety of British Birds. —Prize, W. I. Bicknell, 22, Upper 
Ebury Street, Pimlico (Turtle or Ring Doves). 
Hybrids or Mule Birds of any variety except Canary Mutes. —Prize, J. 
Beach, Little Horton Lane, Bradford, Yorkshire (bred from Goldfinch 
cock and Bullfinch hen). Highly Commended, H. Hanly, Hyde Park 
Barracks (Hybrid between a Goldfinch and Greenfinch); E. T. Keys, 51, 
Beresford Street, Woolwich, Kent (Hybrid between Skylark and Sparrow). 
BIRDS OF PASSAGE AND MIGRATORY BIRDS. 
Blackcap.— Prize, H. Hanly, Hyde Park Bari'acks. 
Garden Warbler.—Prize, H. Hanly, Hyde Park Barracks. 
Golden Oriole.— No entry. 
Nightingale.— Prize, H. Bayman, Woodbine Grove, Penge. Highly 
Commended, J. Alldridge, 145, High Street, Portsmouth; J. Rose, 5, 
Golden Ball Street, Norwich. 
Bedpole. —No entry. 
Redstart. —No entry. 
Siskin, or Aberdevine. —Prize, A. D. Willoughby, Caen Lodge, Twick¬ 
enham, 
Titlark, or Tree Bipit. —Prize, H. Hanly, Hyde Park Barracks. 
Whitethroat. —Prize, H. Ilanly, Hyde Park Barracks (the Greater 
Whitethroat). 
Golden Crested Wren. —No entry. 
Any other variety. —Prize, II. Hanly, Hyde Park Barracks (Black and 
White Wagtail). 
FOREIGN BIRDS. 
Grey Parrot. —-First, W. Cox, Kilburn Villas, Central Hill, Upper 
Norwood. Words spoken by this bird—Walk in, Mr. Cox; Polly wants 
her breakfast; Puss; mocks the cat; calls the dog Toby, and then laughs ; 
Walk in, Sir; Who are you! Polly is a darling. Speaks many names, 
Elizabeth, &c., &c. May "be handled by strangers. Is very quiet. Second, 
E. Hawkins, 6, Bear Street, Leicester Square. 
Green Parrot. —Second, J. Hay, 18, Old Gravel Lane, Wapping (South 
American). Words spoken by this bird—Eliza, George, Charles, Charley; 
Polly, roily; Oh you pretty Polly ; laughs; imitates talking, and children 
crying. Quick in imitating sounds and tunes. A very good-tempered 
bird. (First prize withheld.) 
Any other variety of large Parrots. —Prize, W. W. Westbrooke, Star 
Hotel, Anerley, near Norwood (Turon, Western Australia). 
Lore Birds, Australian Grass Paroquets, or any other variety of small 
Parrots. —First, E. Hawkins, G, Bear Street, Leicester Square (Australian 
Grass Paroquets). Second, A. D. Bartlett, York Crescent, Lower Nor¬ 
wood (Grass Paroquets, crimson backed, bred in captivity). Highly Com¬ 
mended, E. Hawkins (Love Birds, and Australian Paroquets). 
Paroquets. —First, W. IT. Darbourne, Alfred Villa, Kensall Green, Mid¬ 
dlesex (Australian ltosekill). Second, W. Cox, Kilburn Villas, Central 
Hill, Upper Norwood (Cocketeals). Highly Commended, Miss E. Dar- 
boume, Hawthorn Cottage, Framfield, Sussex (Australian Rosehill) ; A. S. 
Davev, Swanscombe, Kent (Green Leek); F. G. Dutton, Lydiard House, 
Swindon (Bengal or Rose-ringed Paroquet). 
Cockatoos. —First, W. Emm, Queen’s Arms, Watford Station, Herts 
(Australian Cockatoo). Second, Mrs. Thompson, 8, Albert Terrace, Rich¬ 
mond Road, Westbourne Grove, Bayswater (Rose - breasted Cockatoo). 
Words spoken by this bird—Pretty Boy, Polly, Puss, How do you do. 
Calls by name several members of the family, &c. Highly Commended, 
H. N. Whitaker, 90, Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square (Orange-crested 
Cockatoo). This bird is very amusing,—laughing, and imitating dogs, 
cats, fowls, &e. Is one of the best talking birds in England. 
Chinese Lories, Lory Grande, or any other variety. —Prize, E. Hawkins, 
G, Bear Street, Leicester Square (Lory Grande). 
Macaws of any variety. —Second, — Adkins, Esplanade, Scarborough 
(Crimson and Green Macaw). (First prize withheld). 
Diamond Sparrow, Coral-necked Sparrow, Java Sparrow. —First, E. 
Hawkins, G, Bear Street, Leicester Square (Java Sparrows). Second, Miss 
C. Bartlett, York Crescent, Lower Norwood (Diamond Sparrows ; bred in 
captivity). Highly Commended, T. Walker, Pembury Road, Tunbridge 
Wells (Diamond Sparrow); II. Duckworth, jun., 1, Lansdowne Villas, 
Downham Road (Java Sparrows). 
Nonpareils, Lndiyo-blue Bird, Bishop Bird. — First and Second, E. 
Hawkins, G, Bear Street, Leicester Square (Nonpareil, and Indigo-blue 
Bird). 
Wax Bills of various kinds. —First and Second, E. Hawkins, G, Bear 
Street, Leicester Square (Orange-cheeked Wax Bills, andBronze Manikins). 
Virginian Nightingale, Cardinal. —First and Second, E. Hawkins, G, 
Bear Street, Leicester Square (Red-crested Cardinal). 
IVhidah Bird. —Prize, H. Hanly, Hyde Park Barracks. 
Foreign Barks. —No entry. 
Mocking Birds. —Prize, E. Hawkins, G, Bear Street, Leicester Square 
(American Mocking Bird). 
Ain/ other variety of Foreign Birds. —First, Miss J, Bartlett, York 
Crescent, Lower Norwood (Californian Quail; bred in captivity). Second, 
E. Hawkins, 6, Bear Street, Leicester Square (Tropic Oriole). Highly 
Commended, T. Walker, Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells (Australian 
Partridge, Quail). 
Judges of Canaries. —Mr. James T. Willmore, A.R.A., and 
Mr. Thomas Moore. 
Judge of British Birds. —Mr. William Kidd. 
Judge of (Foreign Birds. —Mr. William Goodwin. 
IS ERGOT A CAUSE OE BARRENNESS 
IN COWS? 
I enclose a few specimens of Ergot, found in the fields near 
my residence. I should have sent some from the finer grasses, 
hut the specimens are small. 
I or some years, there have been a greater number of barren 
cows in this neighbourhood than formerly, and no one could tell 
the cause. Having read “ Blights of the Wheat,” published by 
the Religious Tract Society, I thought I should be able to find 
out the cause ; and on making a search in the pastures, I have 
found a great number of specimens, sufficient to convince me that 
Ergot was the chief cause of barrenness. I have been told, by a 
medical man, that small doses, acting on the uterus, will produce 
barrenness, and paralyse the other organs in connection with it, 
causing great debility in the system, as is the case with some 
cows now, although well-cared for in other respects.— Rustic 
Robin. 
[With this communication we received specimens of various 
grasses,—such as Dactylis glomerata , or round-panicled Cock’s- 
foot; Lolium j verenne tenue, slender perennial Rye-grass ; and 
Festuca duriusoula , Hard Fescue, all of which were infected with 
Ergot, as well as with mildew. We quite incline to the opinion 
given by our correspondent; for an excess of these fungoid para¬ 
sites, eaten by the cows with their pasture grasses, would have a 
tendency to produce abortions, and ultimately barrenness. We 
shall be very glad to receive information on this subject ; and we 
will only add, that instances are recorded that where poultry were 
fed with Rice affected with Ergot the hens laid shell-less eggs. 
To enable our readers to identify the Ergot, we will state that 
it is a small, pyramidal horn, projecting from the upper end of 
t he seed of the grass, in colour blueish black, or very dark violet, 
with a few dots of grey. Its spores, or seeds, are white, and if 
sprinkled on the soil, about the roots of unaffected grasses, will 
induce the disease in them ; at least, this is stated as a fact by 
M. Wiggers. The botanical name of this fungus is Sclerotium 
clams. It is especially found in Rye, and on this grain more 
frequently in some soils and seasons than in others. A poor soil, 
and a close, moist locality, are said to be favourable to its oc¬ 
currence ; but, according to Wildenow, it may be induced at any 
time, by sowing in a rich, damp soil, and watering the plants 
freely in warm weather. 
We repeat, that we shall be much obliged by information 
relative to this very important subject.— Eds. C. G.] 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Canaries (W. F., and A Subscriber, Boston).— If you refer to a list of 
the exhibitors at the recent Crystal Palace Show, you will see the names of 
many who can supply your wants. 
Silver-spangled Hamburghs [Amicus Galli). —You will find the points 
detailed at page 109 of the present volume. 
Hen-tailed Pencilled IIamburohs [W. Houston). — No good Judge 
awards prizes to these. 
Injured Wattle [A Subscriber). — So small a hit (half the size of a 
threepenny piece), being pecked off, is not material. 
East Indian Ducks.—Doctoring a Canary. —“ What is considered a 
fair weight for Black East Indian Ducks! Mine are as large as common 
Ducks, and I expected to find them much smaller. Does the pure breed 
often show white feathers!” 
[They ought to he totally black, and the smaller the better. 5 lbs for the 
drake and 4 lbs for the duck is heavy.] 
“ C. E. K. cannot give a better thing to a sick canary than a hit of fat 
bacon. Stick a few poppy seeds in the bacon, and the birds will soon take 
to it. I state this from many years experience, and never give any green¬ 
stuff larger than a sixpence, and on alternate days. 
‘ ‘ Many warnings have been given to sellers. I will give you some of 
my experience as a buyer :— 
11 Pen of East Indian Ducks.— One spotted. 
“ Pair of Barbary Doves.— Two hens. 
“ Pair, of Cochin pullets,—One inillet and one old hen.” — When Con¬ 
venient. 
