349 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, September 4, i860. 
the wing-feathers of the Black Swan, curling and twining like a 
corkscrew; but there is also another peculiarity which is not 
shared even by the Black Swan. It is, that many of these curled 
feathers would seem to be detached from the quill, and float like 
streamers or ringlets. This is the sort of introduction that has 
our best sympathies; because, if it became general, it would add 
much to the appearance of our yards and commons, and with a 
more attractive plumage would still secure to us all the valuable 
properties we prize in our ordinary breeds. 
We have now only to mention the Turkeys. The Rev. T. L. 
Eellowes took all the prizes. His three poults in each pen 
•weighed 23 lbs. and Tl\ lbs. Mr. T. Williams’s birds were very 
good, they weighed 21 i lbs. 
BLACK-CRESTED WHITE POLANDS. 
It seems strange that, although so many of your corre¬ 
spondents write about the manufacturing of different breeds of 
fowls, this long-lost and much-coveted variety haa not yet been 
produced. The beautiful Sebright Bantams, as everybody knows, 
were produced by crossing; why should not the Black-crested 
White Polands ? A cross between a White Poland and a White- 
crested Black Poland, judiciously crossed again, would surely in 
time produce perfect birds. 
If any of your readers have tried the experiment I should feel 
obliged if they would communicate the result in The Cottage 
Gardener, as I deem it an interesting subject to every poultry 
fancier.—W. R. E., Plymouth. 
DEWSBURY POULTRY EXHIBITION. 
(From a Correspondent.) 
The annual Meeting of this Society took place on Wednesday, 
August 29th, and far outstripped any of the preceding ones. 
More than the usual number of poultry competed for the premiums 
offered; and the competition in almost every class was of the 
highest order. The field in which the Show was held is peculiarly 
well adapted for the purpose of a Poultry Show. The fowls were 
shown in splendid condition considering the time of year. 
On our first entrance the adult Cochins shown in splendid 
condition, also the chickens, which is an honour to the owner. 
The Spanish came next. They were not so good as we have seen 
at this Show. The Dorkings on the whole were good. Mr. H. 
Hemswortli’s chickens were the best we have yet seen. Messrs. 
Dixon, Cannan, and J. Crosland, jun., showed really good birds, 
and took their share of prizes. Mr. Dixon’s Poland chickens were 
excellent. There were parties in the field just returned from the 
Crystal Palace. They were surprised to find such a splendid 
show of chickens at Dewsbury, and told the Exhibitors had they 
been at the Palace they would have won. We are sorry to say 
we have been, and if I am not mistaken, Bradford and the neigh¬ 
bourhood got such a shock which has not been forgotten. I 
grant a Yorkshireman might be caught once; but he is much 
like a fox, he must not be caught easily again. It is quite under¬ 
stood Yorkshiremen intend to support their own Shows. I am 
sorry to say the Crystal Palace will have little of our support. 
We must leave this question and commence with Game. These 
classes of birds are becoming the style of Game we have long 
looked for. The Black Red chickens were really good, as were the 
Duckwings and Blacks. Bantams were good, Mr. Crosland, jun., 
again stands first with his old pen of Whites, also his Black Reds. 
Mr. J. Thornton won with a nice pen of Duckwings. Gold-laced 
are much improved at this Show. The Single Game Cock prize 
went to a Brown Red, the best we have seen of late. Ducks and 
Geese were very large. Mr. Cannan showed very good Pigeons. 
We are very glad to inform our readers there were no com¬ 
plaints respecting the judgment. It is a pleasure when we hear 
the losing parties say they are satisfied, we have every reason to 
believe they were. Mr. Beldon, one of our well-known breeders, 
and Mr. Stuart, were the Judges, which gave credit to the Show. 
The following is a list of the awards :— 
Cochin-China. — First and Second, XV. Dawson, Hopton, Mil-field. 
Chickens. —First and Second, XV. Dawson. 
Spanish. —First, J. Dixon, Bradford. Second, J. Raynor, Morley. 
Chickens. —First, J. Dixon. Second, XV. Cannan. 
Dorkino. —First, XV. Cannan. Second, H. Hemswortli, Lupset Hall, 
XVakefield. Chickens. —First, II. Ilemsworth. Second, X\ r . Cannan. 
Hamburgh (Golden-spangled).—First, XV. Cannan. Second, J. Dixon. 
Chickens. —First, J. Crosland, .iun., Wakefield. Second, J. Dixon. 
Hamburgh (Silver-spangled).—First, J. Dixon. Second, X\ r . Cannan. 
Chickens.— First, XV. Cannan. Second, J. Dixon. 
Hamburgh (Gold-pencilled).—First, XV. Cannan. Second, J. Dixon. 
Chickens.— First, XV. Cannan. Second, J. Dixon. 
Hamburgh (Silver-pencilled). — First, J. Dixon. Second withheld. 
Chickens. —First, X\ r . Cannan. Second, J. Dixon. 
Polands. —First, J. Dixon. Second, XX r . Cannan. Highly Commended, 
J. Dixon. Cnickens. —First and Second, J. Dixon. 
Game (Black-breasted and other Reds).—First, ,T. Crosland, jun. Second, 
J. Heely, Hepworth. Chickens. —First, Noble & Iveson. Second, J. 
Crosland, jun. 
Game (White and Piles).—First, H. Mason. Second, J. Crosland jun. 
Chickens. —First, Noble & Iveson, Heckmondwike. Second, J. Heely. 
Game (Black).— First, J. Ci-osland, jun. Second, Noble & Iveson. 
Chickens.— First and Second, Noble & Iveson. 
Game (Duckwings).—First, J. Crosland, jun. Second, Noble & Iveson. 
Chickens. —First, S. Scholefield. Second, Noble & Iveson. 
Bantams (XXTiite).—First, J. Crosland, jun. Second, S. Scholefield. 
Highly Commended, J. Dixon. 
Bantams (Black).—First, J. Dixon. Second, M. Ridgway, Dewsbury. 
Bantams (Laced).—First, XV. Cannan. Second, J. Crosland, jun. 
Bantams (Game).—First, J. Crosland, jun. Second, J. Thornton, Heck¬ 
mondwike. Highly Commended, J. Thornton. 
Any Distinct Breed.— First, J. Dixon. Second, XV. Dawson. Chickens. 
—First, W. Cannan. Second, J. Dixon. 
Best Cock. —First and Second, T. M. Brook, Dewsbury. 
Best Hen. —First, M. Ridgway. Second, H. Hemswortli. 
Ducks (Aylesbury).—First, XV. Cannan. Second, G. Farnhill, Car- 
bughow. 
Ducks (Rouen).—First, J. Dixon. Second, XV. Dawson. 
Geese. —First, XX r . Cannan. Second, J. Dixon, 
Turkeys.— Prize, J. Dixon. 
Games. —First, J. Crosland, jun. Second, Noble & Iveson. Third, XV. 
XVheteley. 
Pigeons. — Carriers. —Prize, XXL Cannan. Almond Tumblers. —Prize, 
XV. Cannan. Tumblers. —Prize, XXL Cannan. Barbs. —Prize, W. Cannan. 
Turbits. —Prize, XV. Cannan. Jacobins. —Prize, XV. Cannan. Fantails .— 
Prize, XV. Cannan. Croppers. —Prize, XV. Cannan. Antwerps. —Prize, 
G. Breavey. 
A HEN ADOPTING ORPHAN CHICKENS. 
Having lately observed among my poultry a natural curi¬ 
osity, I have presumed to acquaint you with it, thinking you 
may deem it worthy of notice. 
I had a brood of nine fine chickens hatched by a good 
Game hen, late in June or early in July. They progressed 
capitally for several days, until something, either cat or rat, 
destroyed seven in one night. Two only remaining, these the 
hen carefully nursed for five weeks, then suddenly left them, 
and commenced laying again. They wandered about pensive 
for a time, and at length began foraging for food like old fowls. 
Whilst doing so they oliscontinued that peculiar cry of chickens, 
and took to a kind of whistling crake like pullets of five or six 
months old. After being without a mother by day, and roosting 
by themselves at night for a fortnight, an old white-faced 
Spanish hen which I have had for four years (being a favourite), 
and have never during the whole time observed broody, or have 
ever heard clucking, suddenly took to the chickens, calling 
them, and clucking lustily. They were very suspicious of her 
for several hours; but the pertinacity with which she continued 
following them, and carrying morsels of food to them, soon 
made them familiar with her, and she now nurses them more 
carefully than I have ever before observed a hen to do. They 
now roost comfortably underneath her wings at night. And 
what appears stranger still is, that they have resumed their 
shrill cry peculiar to chickens, and respond to her call imme¬ 
diately, though they appeared quite to have forgotten it, as they 
utterly disregarded it for some time after the commencement of 
her attention ; hut she now fights for them vigorously, though 
they are good-sized chickens. They have also that fretful cry, 
when they want nursing during the day, which was not heard 
while they were orphans. 
Should you consider these few rhapsodical remarks as con¬ 
taining anything interesting to you, I shall be glad to see it 
acknowledged in The Cottage Gardener. The hen and 
chickens with the original mother may be seen in my yard. 
I fear the hen will famish herself, so assiduously does she 
reserve and carry every morsel to the chickens. It is now rather 
more than a fortnight since she has taken to them.—\Y. Henry 
Hodges, Little Dean. 
Remarkable Tenacity of Life in a Fowl. —E. Horsfall, 
Esq., M.D., of Wakefield, recently found a Cochin-China fowl 
belonging to him firmly fixed between two pieces of wood. He 
supposes that it must have been in that position nearly a month, 
during the whole of which period it was without food. When 
discovered it was alive; and Dr. Horsfall entertains the hope 
that he will be able to restore it to health by the administration 
at intervals of small doses of ardent spirits. 
