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THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, April 13, 1858. 
In France, I liave also met with a variety of Runt, smooth - 
headed and clean-footed, of a red plumage, or very deep 
yellow, the shoulders of the wings being white, more or less 
accurately coloured. They were designated “ Tig re rouge ; ’ ’ 
the young of these last were all red, and they did not attain 
their white shoulders till the first moult. They were of good size. 
Variety 19.-TIIE PIGEONS MIROITES (Columba 
specular is ). 
This variety of Pigeon I am not at all acquainted with; 
but the following description I have endeavoured to translate 
from MM. Boitard and Corbie’s French work on Pigeons : — 
“ It is very remarkable that none of the authors who have 
written on Pigeons have spoken of this breed, so remarkable 
for the beautiful colours of its plumage. Is it because they 
have never come under their notice ? But, nevertheless, al¬ 
though not very common, all the amateurs know it, and many 
possess some varieties. Or is it that they do not regard it 
as a pure breed ? This cannot be the reason, because these 
Pigeons are positively those which they call true bred, since 
they cannot be crossed with any other variety, even which 
resemble them, without being lost for ever. These birds have 
the general form of the Runts, and they are easily known by 
the striking beauty of their plumage. They never have ceres 
round the eyes, and their irides are commonly yellow. 
“ The Red Pigeon Miroite is of a red like the blood of a 
bullock, terminating at eight lines of the end of the quill 
feathers of the wings and tail, in a bar of greyish white, half 
an inch in width. The ends of the feathers are of a red colour, 
a little clearer than the rest of the body. Eyes like a cock ; 
that is to say, the irides yellow. This charming variety is of 
the common size, very productive, and merits all the respect 
and care of the amateurs. 
“ The Yellow Pigeon Miroite. This beautiful bird does 
not differ from the preceding, except that the ground of the 
plumage is yellow for the vest, it is miroite the same on 
the pi incipal feathers and the tail. It has the same fecundity. 
“ The little Pigeon Miroite resembles the preceding, but 
much smaller—about the size of the Doveliouse Pigeon. This 
charming bird breeds well.” 
Variety 20. -THE ICE PIGEON (Columba glacialis). 
German , Die Eis Taube. 
The last variety of Toy Pigeon, to which I shall allude, i 
the Ice Pigeon, a German, and it derives its name from th 
superabundance of condition, or whitish powder which per 
vades the plumage, which is thought to give the individual 
the appearance ot being iced or frosted. In colour they are ; 
unable to translate tlic word miroite. A Frencl 
Llourl nf\v ,?ni! J” Iapphe uV m [ orr f cd “0it meant composed of thre 
coiouis, oi v hich two were blended in one. 
clear light blue, with a black bar across the end of the tail, 
and two tine bars, either black or white, across the wings. 
They are about the size of a Dovehouse Pigeon, rather stouter 
made. The feet heavily feathered, with but' little gloss on the 
neck, and having rather more of the ruddy shade on the 
breast, like the Ring Dove (Columba Talumba). The irides 
are gravel coloured, and the variety rather scarce. 
A sub-variety is known in Germany as Tie Moliltaube , from 
its plumage, reminding one of the Stock Dove (Columba 
JEnas). These much resemble the preceding, except that, 
peihaps, they are rather a lighter blue; have no wing-bars, 
and, except a dull bar across the tail, being without markings. 
—B. P. Brent. 
Erratum .—For “ Schwabben,” in the German name of the Swallow 
Pigeon, read “ Sckwalben.” 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Mr. Worrall and others, Defensive. —We have letters from Mr. 
Worrall, very temperate; from “ A Member of the Liverpool Commit¬ 
tee ; ” from the Hon. W. W. Yernon ; and from Mr. John Douglas; all 
very good, and to the purpose. They shall all appear next week. We 
have to apologise to these and many other correspondents for this 
delay. 
Washing Pigeons ( JV. J. S.). —You may easily wash the feathers of | 
your Pigeons with lukewarm water and soap, put on a piece of flannel. 
When the soap is washed out, and the feathers are clean, put the bird 
in a basket with clean straw, and put it before a fire till the bird is dry. 
Mr. Archer’s Silver-pencilled IIamburghs [A. G.). —Mr. Archer’s 
Ilamburghs are the perfection of the breed. The cocks are nearly 
white, with simply a little marking at the tip of the w T ing; very white | 
ear-lobes; each feather in the tail black, edged with silver; well- j 
pointed and firmly-set combs, spiked behind, and the spike inclining 
upwards. The pullets have clear white hackles, accurately pencilled 
bodies, white ear-lobes, bright red combs, and pencilled tails. This 
gentleman deserves the thanks of all Hamburgh breeders. He has not 
only brought them to perfection in feather, but he has redeemed them 
from the accusation of being sickly birds. We should tell you, that till 
they get their adult plumage, the cocks are speckled in many parts of 
their bodies. 
Queries about Cochin-Chinas (A. S. B.). —“ 1. Is a bird perma¬ 
nently injured by having a fit'? I have a Cochin cockerel which had one 
the other day. He had recently come from a free and bleak run, into a j 
sheltered yard, and, soon after this change, the weather became ex- : 
cessively hot. I bled him, and put him in a cool place, and gave him 
some restorative pills each day, after the first one or two days. He 
scoured very much, with much green washy matter. He is gradually I 
recovering the use of his legs. If he recovers he would be fit for show ; 
but will he be, in any probability, sound or useful.” [Yes, he may live i 
for years, and will be good as a stock bird.] “ 2. Do Cochins lay better- 
in a hard winter, than a mild one ? My experience makes me believe they i 
do so.” [We observe no difference. They decline as layers as they 
become older.] ” 3. I have a hen that has only just cleared her moult¬ 
ing, and her sister hen that still looks ragged.' They are healthy birds, j 
not more than two years (or twenty months) old. ‘is this a common 
thing?” [No; very unusual.] 
Breeding large Ducks.— A Subscriber to The Cottage Gardener 
would be glad if some one, who understands the rearing of Ducks, 
would let him know the way to treat young Ducks, which are to be bred 
for size, either Aylesbury or Itouens. [Many of our readers would be 
glad to obtain this information, and we shall be obliged by any of our 
readers imparting it.— Ed.] 
LONDOX MARKETS. —April 12th. 
COVENT GARDEN. 
A fair supply of all descriptions of produce has been to hand during 
the last week or two, but seldom has Easter passed over with so small 
an amount of business doing. Asparagus and Sea-kale moderate in 
price. French Beans merely nominal, so large a supply on hand. Some 
good samples of early Grapes may be had at prices ranging from 15s. 
to 25s. per lb. Strawberries, Is. and Is. 6d. per oz. Pines from Os. to 
10s. per lb. From the Continent, our usual consignments; and from 
Cornwall, an excellent parcel of Broccoli. The early Botatoes not yet ! 
coming very freely; the markets for old are heavily stocked; prices i 
range from £7 10s. to £8 per ton. 
POULTRY. 
The Easter holidays, and the absence of the Court from London, have 
lessened the demand, and prevented any rise in prices. If there were 
much demand, the scarcity of good poultry would cause it to be very 
dear. 
Large Fowls ... 
Small ditto. 
Chickens. 
Goslings. 
Ducklings. 
Each. 
6s. 0 d. to 6s. 6 d. 
4 6 „ 5 6 
3 0 „ 4 6 
7 6 ,,8 0 
3 6 „ 4 3 
Guinea Fowls . 
Turkeys . 
Pigeons . 
Rabbits . 
! Wild ditto. 
Each. 
2s. 6 d. to 3 s. 3 d. 
0 0 „ 0 0 
0 9 ,, 0 10 
14 ,,15 
0 10 ,, 0 11 
London : Printed by Hugh Barclay, Winchester, High-street, in the 
Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar ; and Published for the Proprietors, at 
The Cottage Gardener Office, No. 20, Paternoster Row, in the 
> Parish of Christ Church, City of London.—April 13, 1858. 
