318 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 15, 1859. 
St. Bees; IT. r. Watson, Preston; Bird and Beldon, Bradford; AV. Syl¬ 
vester, Sheffield ; J. Billyeald, Hyson Green, Nottingham. 
Dicks (AVhite Aylesbury).—Cup, J. Abbot, Kendal. Second, J. Dixon, 
Bradford. Highly'Commended, T. Emett, Preston. 
Ducks (Rouen). — First, T. Robinson, Ulverston. Second, J. Dixon, 
Bradford. Commended, T. Robinson, Ulverston; Kendall and Harwich, 
Barrow. 
Ducks (any other variety).—First and Second, J. Dixon, Bradford. 
Highly Commended, F. AV. Earle, Eadenhurst, Prescot. 
EXTRA PRIZES. 
Game Cocks.— Cup, A. Sutherland, Burnley. Second, J.Hindson, Barton 
House, Everton, Liverpool. Third, G. AV. Moss, the Beach, Liverpool. 
Highly Commended, Kendall and Barwick, Barrow; E. Swainson, Nibth- 
vvaite. Commended, R. Gelderd, Ulverston; J. C. James, Liverpool; 
J. Hindson. Barton House, Everton, Liverpool. 
Game Chickens (any variety).—First, A. Sutherland, Burnley. Second, 
J. Hindson, Liverpool. Highly Commended, G. AAL Moss, Liverpool; 
F. Atkinson, Lord’s Plain; AA’. Newby, Lawrence House, Milnthorpe; 
T. Robinson, Ulverston. Commended, II. P. Watson, Preston ; R. l’endle- 
bury, Radcliffe. 
Spanish Chickens. —Prize, Miss Hyde, Moss Cottage, Ashton, Highly 
Commended, C. T. Nelson, Birmingham; H. Harvey, Exchange Street, 
Sheffield. 
Game (Furness Prize). — First, E. Swainson, Nibthwaite. Second, 
T. Robinson, Ulverston. Third, M. J. Crauke, Urswick. Highly Com¬ 
mended, AA r . Robinson, Ulverston. Commended, J. Kendall, jun., Gleaston; 
C. B. Kennedy, Fair A'iew, Ulverston; J. Boulton, Ulverston ; AV. F. D, 
Dickinson, Ulverston. 
Judge —Edward Hewitt, Esq., Spnrk Brook, Birmingham. 
BRAHMA POOTRAS-BLACK IXAMBURGIIS. 
Having kept Brahma Pootras from their first introduction, 
and valuing them much, I was pleased at the remarks of your 
correspondent, “ J. K. F.,” in your No. of January 25th. The 
writer of that article, I make no question, is as well qualified to 
give an opinion on the merits of these birds as any man in 
England ; and all he says in their favour, I would, from my own 
experience, readily endorse. As I am but an amateur, and, 
possibly, not so well skilled in details as I ought to be, I wish to 
ask through your columns—1st. Are the cocks of this breed in¬ 
admissible at Poultry Shows, unless they have a pea comb, or 
rather the mean-looking triple comb I observed at the Crystal 
Palaec Show last month ? And are birds with the handsome, 
plain, single comb, to be excluded? If, as some pretend, the 
Brahma is uot a distinct breed, how is it that they breed always 
true, as I can most assuredly aver that they do ? Are black 
Hamburglis a distinct breed, or are they not ? If they are, how 
is it that no distinct class has been yet allowed them ? They 
also breed true, and possess all the genuine characteristics of that 
class of birds— viz., the Hamburgh*.— Red Ensign. 
DUCKS WITH BLIGHT FEATHERS REVERSED. 
I thine: it may not he out of place, to offer a few remarks on 
the ducks with flight feathers reversed, which were highly com¬ 
mended at the Crystal Palace Show, and noticed in The Cottage 
Gardener, January ISth, as being grotesque. 
These ducks were sent to Linton Park about a year ago, as a 
present from a gentleman, who believed them to be a distinct 
breed ; hut 1 have not, as yet, been able to ascertain their origin. 
I have been told that they do occasionally come with one wing 
only t urned out; but it has never occurred here. The duck, in 
March and April, laid thirty-five eggs, which are rather smaller 
than those of the Aylesbury. She sat on eighteen eggs, and 
hatched seventeen birds. From different causes, ten only were 
reared: these all came with their wings turned out, but they 
varied in colour. Of the drakes, some were dove-colour, and 
some chocolate. The ducks were brown and nearly black. Their 
peculiarity of wing begins to appear at the end of a fortnight. 
In August, the ducks gained a first prize in the class for “ any 
other breed,” at Maidstone. In October, they were sent to one 
of the highest authorities in poultry matters, and he pronounced 
them, as far as he could judge, a distinct breed, and advised their 
being sent to the Crystal Palace Show, where they gained the 
high commendation alluded to above. The peculiarity in their 
Avings prevents their flying. They are exceedingly pretty for 
ornamental water; as a number of them together have the 
appearance of a miniature fleet. I understand they are found 
excellent for the table, and that their eggs arc very good. 
I must apologise for taking up so much space in your valuable 
paper, but I was anxious to show that they have useful, as well 
as ornamental, qualities to recommend them. — J. Robson, Linton 
Park, Staplehurst. 
SAGACITY OE THE RAT. 
I have been much amused with your description of the 
“ Cheap and most effectual Rat-trap.” Ingenious it certainly is j 
and effectual it Avill prove for a time,—and for a time only,—if 
all rats are as cunning as those Avitli w hich I have made acquaint¬ 
ance. My garden is bordered on one side by a deep fosse. In 
the hank opposite to us was a large colony of rats. They were 
no annoyance to us, as they never attempted to scale the wall 
which formed our side of the ditch. A country lad came into 
our service; and it vias contrary to his notions of propriety to 
leave the creatures unmolested. He procured some fine wire; 
and with it placed snares in their runs, and at the entrance of 
their holes. So expertly he did it, that I suspected they were 
not the first gins he had set. Great was his success for a while. 
I have seen him drive down the garden walk two or three rats at 
a time, and they obeyed much more readily than pigs. After a 
very few days no more rats were caught: how could it be? They 
must come out of their holes to eat and drink; sharp eyes were 
on the watch ; and the cunning rogues Avere repeatedly seen to 
tuke the wire in their mouths, and coolly walk out with it. 
Moreover, they never forgot the lesson they had learned. We 
have set a trap in our cellar. They know it is a trap for them as 
well as we do. We have covered it entirely, and for a consider¬ 
able space round it, with bran. They begin to eat at the outer 
edge of the bran, gradually narrowing the circle, till they leave 
not a grain except on the plate of the trap. Foxes must, I think, 
bow to the superior cunning and sagacity of the rat.—Quis. 
NATIONAL COLUMBARIAN CLUB. 
This Club held its second annual Show iu the large room at 
Anderton’s, Fleet Street, on Tuesday, the 8th inst. The room, 
which was decorated with the fiags of Great Britain, Prussia, 
France, and Sardinia, looked very showy; and the number of 
visitors was very numerous. 
The Pigeons most admired were those of Mr. Adkins, of 
Birmingham, who contributed more than twenty pairs: they 
consisted of Poivters, Carriers, Owls, Trumpeters, Fantails, Nuns, 
he. Mr. H. Weir’s beautiful pen of Fantails was the admira¬ 
tion of all the visitors. Mr. Fry, of Brighton, sent some of his 
best Carriers. Mr. Hayne exhibited some splendid Blue Poivters. 
Mr. Tegetmeier also contributed Powters and some capital 
Dragons. Messrs. Southwood and Holmes showed some splen¬ 
did Carriers. Mr. Maddeford, of Staines, exhibited his Yellow 
Baris, which are wonderful birds. This gentleman’s collection 
of Jacobins w as also well worthy of praise. Mr. W. Wrench 
Tow’se had some good birds in his pen, which consisted of Owls, 
Yellow and Blue Jacobins, Trumpeters, Suabians, &c. Mr. 
Griffith also sent some good Swallows, Beards, Almonds, &c. 
Messrs. Thomas Esquilant and Percival’s Short-faced Tumblers, 
Owls, &c., are so well known, that it is needless our saying more. 
Several members brought up some of the results of their 
victories, in the shape of silver cups, medals, &c., which did the 
Club much credit. 
Most of the members exhibited, and the number of birds shown 
was more than 280. We had almost overlooked the Tunis, 
which were well supported here by Mr. J ones, Mr. Towse, and 
Mr. Bridges. Mr. J ones sent a very good collection of Trumpeters. 
The members dined together in the evening. 
Partridge-coloured Chickens. —A guinea subscription is 
again opened for giving two extra prizes for these chickens at 
the Birmingham Show of the present year. Mr. C. Felton, of 
Erdington, near Birmingham, is the Secretary and Treasurer. 
We have Been a list of fourteen subscribers. 
OUR LETTER BOS. 
Caof. Birds (J. Reeves ).—There is no really good book in English about 
them. Your complaint against Beckstein’s is quite true. We may publish 
some more papers upon the subject. AA r e sent the number you required. 
Book on Poultry ( A Noviee. W. G. C .).—The best hook w ith coloured 
plates is “The Poultry Book,’’ by Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Wingfield. 
