THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 21, 1S58. 
s ymptoms of infectious disease is at once removed, in common 
justice to other competitors ; and, to prevent the careless 
repetition of such entries, perchance it would be well to add a 
tine upon their owner, where such reckless indifference to the 
interests of others is evinced. Had these birds been dif¬ 
ferently exhibited, there is but little doubt in our minds that 
they might have been successful. But “ the wind that blows 
ill-luck to all is indeed a bad one,” so says the old axiom, and 
such was the case here; consequently, the cup was eventually 
won by three most meritorious pens,—one of Black-breasted 
Red Game , such as are rarely to be seen; one of excellent 
Golden-pencilled Hamburghs , and a very creditable pen of 
Grey Dorkings. Among the pens shown in this class were 
some wonderfully well-grown Empden Geese. 
We believe that the Meetings of past years rather excelled, 
in both Spanish and also Grey Dorkings, those now com¬ 
peting. There were some excellent White Dorkings however. 
The Game classes were very superior; the Hamburghs and 
Polands not being so good. 
The White Aylesbury class was first-rate, and in the class 
for “any other variety of Ducks” was exhibited, by C. R . 
Colville, Esq., M.P., a pen of the almost extinct variety of 
the so-called “ Poland Ducks ; ” they were entirely white ones, 
and, although some thirty years since comparatively common, 
they are now very rarely to be met with. Some of the 
Buenos Ayres Ducks in this class were perfection, and were 
claimed almost immediately the Show opened. 
We cannot possibly speak too highly of the Geese , they were 
worthy of the locality, proverbially renowned as it is for the 
superiority of these useful birds. Any among them would 
have been worthy of prize-taking at most Shows. 
The Turkeys exhibited by the Countess of Chesterfield were 
very good. 
The Bantams were not equal to the classes exhibited at 
former Meetings of this Society. 
The show of Pigeons was decidedly a very superior one, and 
embraced not only excellent specimens in the general classes, 
but also many rare varieties. 
In Babbits there were some very heavy ones, others equally 
praiseworthy for length of ears; and likewise a good 
specimen of the white Angola Rabbit. 
Mr. Edward Hewitt, of Spark Brook, Birmingham, again 
officiated as on many previous occasions, and his awards, as 
heretofore, were satisfactory. The day was a suitable one, for 
although at sunrise some little apprehension prevailed that 
rain would ensue, nothing save the slightest sprinkling for a 
minute or two prevailed; there was nothing, therefore, to 
mar the happiness of any one, and we again express our most 
unfeigned satisfaction that such meritorious efforts to promote 
success met with so complete a reward. The birds were ex¬ 
ceedingly well attended, nor, on inquiry, did we hear of 
accident of any kind happening to a single specimen. The 
general welfare of our poultry shows would be greatly ad¬ 
vanced, were Committees, as a rule, to adopt the principles 
scrupulously carried out by the Sparkenhoe Farmers’ Club. 
The prizes we append. 
A Silver Cup for the Three Best Pens of Poultry, of any variety, 
exhibited by one person. Each Pen to consist of a Male and two 
Females.—The Cup, H. Lowe, Comberford (Dorking, Golden-pencilled 
Hamburgh, and Black-breasted Game). Highly Commended, J. M. 
Baker, Gordon Hall. Commended, R. Choyce, Bramcote Hall. Dis¬ 
qualified, J. Choyce, Harris Bridge. 
Spanish. —First, E. Morley, Sapcote. (No second prize awarded, 
there being no competition.) 
Dorkings (Coloured).—First, Miss E. S. Perkins, Sutton Coldfield. 
Second, J. Faulkner, Bretby Farm. 
Dorkings (White).—First and Second, R. Farmer, Whateley. 
Cochin-China (Coloured).—First, Miss E. S. Perkins. (No second 
prize awarded, there being no competition.) 
Game (White, Piles, and Light Colours).—First and Second, J. 
Hand, jun., Amington. Commended, R. Choyce, Bramcote Hall: 
J. Taverner, Hartshill. 
Game (Red and other Dark Colours).—First, T. Huskins. Second, 
J. Princep, Appleby. Highly Commended, T. Huskins, Wilneeote; 
W. Dester, Seckington; R. Walker, Kingsbury. Commended, J. 
Choyce; C. Hopkins. (A very good class.) 
Malay. —Second, R. Choyce, Bramcote Hall. (First withheld.) 
Hamburgh (Gold-spangled and Pencilled).—First and Second, G. 
Woodcock, Hinckley. Commended, Miss E. S. Perkins. 
Hamburghs (Silver-spangled and Pencilled). — First, Miss E. S. 
Perkins. Second, F. Cheatle, Dosthill. Commended, J. Faulkner. 
Poland. —First, J. Choyce, Harris Bridge. (No competition for the 
second prize.) 
Barn Doors.— First, J. Faulkner. Second, J. Choyce. 
1 or any other Distinct Breed.— Second, W. Hunter, Ashby-dc- 
la-Zouch (Fnezland). (First prize withheld.) 
Ducks (White Aylesbury).—First, J. Choyce. Second, F. Cheatle, 
Dosthill. Commended, J. M. Baker, Dordon Ilall. (A commendable 
class.) 
Ducks (any other variety).—First, C. R. Colville, Esq., M.P. (Top- 
knotted Aylesbury). Second, Miss E. S. Perkins (East Indian). Com¬ 
mended, the Countess of Chesterfield (Rouen). 
Geese. —First, the Countess of Chesterfield. Second, J. M. Baker, 
Dordon Hall. Highly Commended, W. Winter ton, Woolvey Villa ; 
C. R. Colville, Esq., M.P. Commended, S. C. Pilgrim, Burbage. (A 
most excellent class.) 
Turkevs. —First, the Countess of Chesterfield. (No competition for 
the second prize.) 
Guinea Fowls. —First, F. Cheatle. (No competition for the second 
prize.) 
Bantams.— First, Miss E. S. Perkins (Black). Second, J. Choyce, 
Harris Bridge. Highly Commended, Miss E. S. Perkins (Game); J. 
Choice ; R. Cowles (White). 
Pigeons. — Pouters or Croppers.— Prize, J. Choyce. Carriers. —Prize, 
J. Choyce. Tumblers. —Prize, W. Choyce, jun., Sibson. Highly Com¬ 
mended, J. Choyce ; C. Clarson, Tamworth. (The whole class very 
good.) Font ails. —Prize, J. Choyce. Any other distinct Variety. — 
Prize, W. Choyce, jun. (Nuns and Archangels) ; J. Choice (Blue Owls). 
Highly Commended, J. Choyce (Silver Turbit). (A most superior 
class.) 
Rabbits. — For the heaviest Weight. —Prize, W. Choyce. For the 
greatest length of Far. —Prize, C. Clarson, Tamworth. For the best of 
any other kind. —Prize, W. Choyce, jun. (Angola) 
CAUTION TO POULTEYT-KEEPERS. 
If I mistake not, there appeared in the pages of The 
Poultry Chronicle, a short time since, an exposure of 
some attempts at robbery, as practised upon poultry-keepers. 
Such exposures must do good, and I therefore send the fol¬ 
lowing details of a similar attempt, in which the intended 
victim was myself. On the 17th of August, I received the 
following letter :— . 
“ 8 Mo., 16th, 1858. 
“ Respected Friend,—Please say, per return, if thou has any 
Silver-pencilled Hamburghs to dispose of, and thy lowest price for 
them. “Thine truly, 
u John Thompson. 
“ Cross Street, Swan Street, Manchester.” 
Now, upon the receipt of this letter, which, by-the-bye, had 
the words “ Wholesale toy-belt, fyc., manufacturer, Man¬ 
chester ,” printed on the top of the first page (I suppose to 
make it look a little more genuine). I immediately said this 
is a sell. However, I answered the letter, stating that I had j 
some Hamburghs to part with, and that the price was £1 
each. On the 20th of August I received the following, with 
the same printed heading on the paper as before :— 
“ 8 Mo., 19th, 1858. 
“ Respected Friend,—Thine of the 17th, with price of Silver-pen¬ 
cilled Hamburghs, is duly to hand. In reply, thou may forward me 
two pens of them, at price quoted, namely, £1 each. An arrival of 
same shall meet my prompt atention , by a remitance for amount of . 
invoice. “ Thine truly, 
“John Thompson.” 
I liaye transcribed the words in the above letters as they 
were written in the originals, and the fact of such mistakes 
did not make a more favourable impression on my mind as to 
my would-be-Quaker buyer. Therefore, I wrote and told him, 
that, upon the receipt of a post-office order for the £6, the 
birds should be sent off by the Great Northern Railway. 
Perhaps I need not say that I have never since heard from 
my “ Respected Friend,” though I w r rote a third time, to 
know whether he intended to have the birds, as if not they 
would be disposed of elsewhere. 
There the matter stands. The “ prompt atention ” has 
never been called upon for a “ remitance ,” and my birds were 
not despatched to Cross Street, Swan Street, Manchester, j 
Mr. John Thompson is, as he doubtless would have been had 
lie received my Hamburghs, — non est. 
Now it is quite possible that this same individual may have 
tried this game on with others besides myself; or, if he has 
not done so, that lie, or some of his confederates, will do so 
at some future time. Therefore, I consider it only kind and 
neighbourly to ask you to insert this letter in your Poultry 
Chronicle, in order that my brother poultry-fanciers may 
be put upon their guard, and learn in time to beware of part¬ 
ing with their fowls before they receive their money.— Fred. 
B. Peyer, Bennington Bectory, Stevenage , Ilerts. 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
“ Help me, my Friends.”— We have now two letters for the writer 
of that communication. 
