256 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 18, 1859. 
way praiseworthy. Were we to “hazard an observation,” we 
would press upon the Society the propriety of utilising their en¬ 
deavours as much as possible, by which we mean that, in award¬ 
ing prizes, they should not look merely to bright glossy-feathered 
chuckies, but have an eye as far as possible to the quantity of 
eggs, which, after all, is the most material test of a good hen. 
Unfortunately, at the close, a five-pound prize Canary bird, be¬ 
longing to Mr. Robertson, which had carried off head honours 
at Glasgow, Perth, and other places, and which had just been 
preferred by the Judges, dropped down dead on an instrumental 
band beginning to play in the street. Was it envy of their 
superior strains, or the shock of their discordant notes, that 
stunned the little songster, and produced the fell catastrophe? 
Mr. Brown, Perth, and Mr. Johnstone, Broughty Ferry, who 
acted as Judges, and discharged the duties with great good taste 
and skill, made the following awards:— 
Spanish (bred by members in 1858).— First and Second, J. Laing, 
Dysart. Third, A. Lockhart, Kirkcaldy. 
Dorking (bred by members in 1858).—First and Third, J. Stocks, West 
Bridge. Second, R.'Lockhart, Kirkcaldy. Highly Commended, D. Laing, 
Kirkcaldy; Mrs. Oswald, Dunnikier ; Rev. J. 15. Haxton, Pathhead. (This 
was a highly meritorious class.) 
Cochin-China (bred by members in 1858).—First and Second, Lord 
Loughborough, Dysart House. 
Hamburgh (bred by members in 1858).—First, C. A. Lockhart, Kirk¬ 
caldy. Second, P. Darling, Skeddoway. Third, W. Bonthron, jun., 
Kirkcaldy. 
Game (bred by members in 1858).—First, D. Paton, Pathhead. Second, 
J. Ness, Pathhead. Third, T. Jackson, Kirkcaldy. 
Ducks, Aylesbury (bred by members in 1858).—First, J. Young, Burnt¬ 
island. Second, Colonel Ferguson, M.P., Raith. 
Spanish, Old (competition open to Scotland).—First, J. Redpath, 
Edinburgh. Second, J. Laing, Dysart. Third, J. Brown, Kinross. Highly 
Commended, A. Lockhart, Kirkcaldy. 
Dorking (any age, open to Scotland).—First, W. Taylor, Cullalo Lodge, 
Aberdour. Second and Third, R. Lockhart. Highly Commended, J. L. 
Gow, Raith ; T. Y. Craig, Pathhead ; Rev. J. B. Haxton. (This elass was 
considered the best in the Exhibition.) 
Cochin-China (any age, open to Scotland).—First and Second, Lord 
Loughborough, Dysart House. 
Hamburgh (any age, open to Scotland).—First, C. A. Lockhart, Kirk¬ 
caldy. Second, P. Darling, Skeddoway. 
Game (any age, open to Scotland).—First, J. Cluny, Kirkcaldy. Second, 
D. Anderson, Kirkcaldy. Third, T. Jackson, Kirkcaldy. Highly Com¬ 
mended, D. Milne, and J. Hay. 
Bantams.— Prize, J. Young, Burntisland. 
Ducks, Aylesbury (any age).—First, J. Stocks, West Bridge. Second, 
J. Jamieson, Kirkcaldy. Third, Colonel Ferguson, M.P., Raith. 
Ducks (any other breed, any age). — First, J. Jamieson, Kirkcaldy. 
Second, J. Young, Burutlislandl 
Turkeys (any age).—First and Second, J. Jamieson, Kirkcaldy. Third, 
J. Young, Burntisland. Commended, Colonel Ferguson, M.P., Raith. 
CANARIES. 
Yellow Cocks. —First and Second, J. Robertson, Links. Third, W. 
Bonthron, jun., Kirkcaldy. 
Buff Cocks. —All the prizes gained by J. Robertson, Links. 
Yellow Hens. —First and Third, J. Robertson. Second, D. Laing. 
Buff Hens. —All the prizes gained by J. Robertson. 
Yellow Belgium Cocks. —First, J. Robertson. Second, J. Herdsman. 
Buff Belgium Cocks. —First, D. Laing. Second, J. Herdsman. Third, 
J. Beveridge. 
Yellow' Belgium Hens. —First, J. Herdsman. Second, D. Paton. 
Buff Belgium Hens.— First, W. Bonthron, jun. Second, J. Robertson. 
Third, P. Wilson. 
Yellow Piebald Cocks. —First and Third, W. Bonthron, jun. Second, 
A. Young. 
Yellow Piebald Hens. —First, J. Henderson. Second, A. Young. 
Buff Piebald Hens. —First, J. Robertson. Second, J.Herdsman. Third, 
A. Young. 
Yellow Goldfinch Mules.— First, J. Robertson. Second, J. Ness. 
Third, D. Paton. —Fifeshire Advertiser, January 8, 1859. 
THE PHILOPERISTERON MEETING. 
The Meeting of this Society, at the Freemason’s Hall, was 
held on Tuesday, the 11th inst. ; nnd, from the time the doors 
were open until the repacking of the birds commenced, the 
Hall was densely crowded. We believe that upwards of 700 
tickets were issued, nnd we know that many more w'ouhl have 
been received with avidity by the country fanciers assembled in 
London for the Crystal Palace Show. 
For the arrangements, the company, and the beauty of the 
birds, this Meeting must stand alone. Here, at least, "there is 
no disappointed exhibitor, for all take the same standing, and 
that is a very high one. 
On entering the Hall, the general appearance of it could not 
fail to strike the visitor; and we fancied how different it must 
appear under this aspect to what it does in general. 
The centre of attraction seemed to be the fine collection of 
Powters, belonging to Mr. Bnlt; and these splendid birds cer¬ 
tainly deserved all the admiration bestowed on them. They put 
us in mind of the Swiss cows at the Parisian Agricultural 
Exhibition of 1856, where each had her bouquet, looking-glass, 
bell, and sometimes an image of the Virgin, suspended over her 
manger ; for in front of their pens were suspended rosettes of 
divers-coloured ribbons, silver medals, &c. The centre pens 
were occupied by three milk-white birds of great beauty, and 
the condition in which they were shown says much for the care 
taken of them by their owner. The same gentleman also ex¬ 
hibited a cage of very good Jacobines. 
Mr. Ilayne, of Croydon, perhaps the most successful breeder 
of Carrier Pigeons of the clay, fully sustained the reputation 
bis birds have so generally won for him. They weie all that 
could be desired. Mr. Oliver, and Mr. Esquilant, both ex- 
hibited some very handsome specimens of this celebrated 
Pigeon. 
Mr. Wickings’ cage of silver Owls could not fail to attract 
great attention, and we think such a collection was never 
before exhibited. The same gentleman showed some exquisite 
Toys, and in one cage a pair of Almond Baldheads. 
The Turbits were very good; the yellow Magpies also. Mr. 
Jones Percival pleased every one with his pen of Almond 
Tumblers and Beards. As for the latter, they were the ad¬ 
miration of all, and the Almonds, especially one cock bird, 
seemed as if they bad been subjected to a course of treatment 
under the phrenologist, in Captain Marryat’s novel, where by 
his machine he brought all heads to the required shape. 
The Pantails of Mr. Harrison Weir’s collection, are, probably, 
hardly to be equalled, the blue ones especially. The Jacobines 
in the same cage seemed perfection, both for colour and frills. 
Where all the birds exhibited are so good, it seems difficult 
to omit notice of any; but some we pas3 over, for want of 
space only. In conclusion, we wonlcl heartily wish all success 
to the Philoperisteron Society, the members of which must feel 
gratified, and who really deserve the hearty thanks of the many 
who on Tuesday had this great and gratuitous treat. We 
believe the Society to be in a very flourishing state. The 
fancy for Pigeons is daily extending, and it is by such Meetings 
as this that it is fostered and increased. Many men who cannot 
keep their racers or greyhounds, can fly their Pigeons. They are 
not, perhaps, such costly ones as those we have noticed. Those 
who have not even scope for the larger varieties of poultry, may 
find space for a pigeon-loft; and, descending to the more prac¬ 
tical and commonplace view of the subject, while it can pay the 
French to send hundreds of dozens of young Pigeons to 
London per week, and get a good profit from them,—surely we 
ought to pay more attention to these fecund and useful birds 
ourselves. Xu France, Germany, and the greater part of the 
Continent, they are kept in great numbers. In the former 
country, so important are they considered, that the new agri¬ 
cultural code, lately promulgated, has many enactments relating 
solely to Pigeons. 
It may he said, that the Society about which we have been 
writing will do nothing for the commoner and staple varieties. 
The same tiling was said of the cattle and poultry Shows, and 
now the improvement, both in beasts and fowls, throughout the 
kingdom, is plain to every one. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Egg Harvest (IT. 8 .).—It is a very large produce to have obtained from 
twelve hens during ten months, and only nine of those hens for the re¬ 
maining two months—1,372 eggs. 
Crewe Poultry Show (F. Watkin). —W« have repeafedly pointed out 
your only remedy. Losing your fowls was a great grievance; but you could 
recover their value from the carrier, if he conveyed them in his regular 
business as a carrier. 
Brahma Pootras. —“J. II.,” who wrote relative to these birds in our 
Number for January 4th, will oblige us by again sending his address. We 
have a letter sent to us for him. 
Game Cock without Sickle Feathers (J. M. K .).—I have a Game 
cock, which it is my intention to show next month ; hut, through an 
accident, he has lost his two tail feathers. Will this be to him a complete 
disqualification for getting a prize, supposing him to he the best bird 
shown ? Your answer will much oblige. 
[Something depends on the colour of your bird. It would be unimport¬ 
ant in a Pile, as the colour varies, and may be brown, black, white, or 
mottled. It is not a disqualification in a Black-breasted Red, but it is a 
disadvantage; as, if it were unnoticed, it would enable any exhibitor who 
had a good bird, with a white feather in his tail, to pull it out with im¬ 
punity. A white feather in the tail of a dark Game cock is a disqualification.] 
