FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 
617 
ally throw white feathers. I have had solid white birds 
breed young with smoky tails, showing plainly that at 
some time or other black-tailed whites had been bred 
with them, or used in forming the solid bird. But these 
imperfections are not often seen until the latter part of the 
season, when the birds are weakened by breeding. 
The reds I gave up entirely, as I seldom got them to 
suit me, the color being washy with ash-colored tails ; 
neither have I ever seen first-class reds in all points ; and, 
as a matter of course, the yellows cannot be as fine in 
color, as yellows bred to yellows continually will become 
paler in color. This mating of yellows has been a matter 
of necessity, not having good reds to cross in, which no 
doubt would have helped them much. 
The other colorings, not yet enumerated, are the solids with 
white tails. Of these I have had blues, silvers, yellows, and 
duns ; and I am quite positive that blacks and reds could be 
found in this country at this time ; if not, they could easily 
be produced. This class of birds will occasionally throw a 
solid color, but the tendency is usually the other way. I 
have also had solid white birds with black, blue, red, 
and yellow tails. As far as my experience goes, the 
white birds with colored tails, seldom breed foul birds. 
The two latter colorings I never fancied enough to breed 
them long, as the colored tail on white birds, or white 
tails on colored birds, always had the appearance of a defect 
to me — the tails not being seen except from a back view, 
and when seen from the front, they could not be distinguished 
from the solid birds. Jos. M. Wade. 
Recently after a three days’ rain which followed a long 
drought, the ground being very wet, our pigeons (Antwerps 
and Solid Turbits) were running over the lawn, I observed 
one Antwerp hen pick up a large earth-worm at least five 
inches long, and swallow it as easy as a Brahma would have 
done. This was so unusual a sight, that I watched their 
movements very carefully for some time. I saw others 
picking at worms, but did not notice that they swallowed 
them. I have kept large quantities of pigeons for years, 
but never saw one eat an earth-worm before. — Ed. 
WHAT THE FANCIERS SAY OF THE 
JOURNAL. 
Jos. ,M. Wade: Nashua, N. H. 
By your courtesy I am in receipt of specimen numbers of 
the Fanciers' Journal , which I have read with much pleas- 
ure. It speaks of business tact and enterprise, as well as 
ability in its chosen field of labor. I think a weekly will 
be sustained. Please number me among your subscribers, 
and find money order for amount. 
Yours very truly, Virgil C. Gilman. 
Dear Sir : Pittsburg, Pa. 
The specimen copies of your weekly please me much — I 
mean the Journal and Exchange. It is a paper that has long- 
been desired. I take the monthlies, and like one of them 
very well; but they are too far off between meals. I have 
shown copies of the Journal to my friends, and “ it takes ” 
well. Your paper will continue to add laurels to your fame 
as a fancier and editor. F. H. Kennedy. 
Jos. M. Wade, Esq. Citadel, Charlestown, S. C. 
Dear Sir : I have the pleasure to acknowledge the re- 
ceipt of two numbers of the Fanciers' Journal and Poultry 
Exchange , with which I am very much pleased, and beg to 
offer my best wishes for its success. Please find inclosed 
subscription price. Col. E. M. Hall. 
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Mr. Wade : 
Inclosed please find two dollars and fifty cents for the 
Journal. I like the idea of having a weekly devoted to the 
interests of the fanciers. Hoping for its success, 
I remain very truly, Jos. H. Hamill. 
Mr. Jos. M. Wade. Cambridgeport, Mass. 
Dear Sir: Please put in your exchange column the fol- 
lowing advertisement, and find inclosed amount for two 
insertions. ... I am well pleased with j r our paper as an 
advertising medium, for I have disposed of all the stock I 
cared to, except the following. . . . Most of the purchas- 
ers noticed my advertisement in your paper, which I propose 
to patronize again in the fall. H. K. Osborne. 
Editor Fanciers’ Journal : St. Joseph, Mo. 
Inclosed please find subscription price of Fanciers' Jour- 
nal. I like it, and hope that you will receive such material 
aid as will amply repay you for your enterprise. 
L. Hardman, 815 Francis St. 
Dear Sir : Galt, Ont., Canada. 
I am highly pleased with your weekly paper. 1 believe 
that in a short time it will be the leading poultry paper of 
the day. Duncan McR. Kay. 
Friend Wade : New Haven, April, 1874. 
I wish your paper full success, as it is far ahead, and is not 
all advertisements. F. W. Babcock. 
Editor Fanciers’ Journal: Castile, n. y. 
Dear Sir : I received the specimen copy of Fanciers' 
Journal , and must say that I am very much pleased with 
its appearance. A. Gaines. 
Friend Wade : Warren, Ohio, 
Your paper has done me more good than any other that 
1 have used. The advertisements may for the present be 
discontinued, as I have sold, in consequence, about all the 
stock and eggs that I care to G. W. Dickinson. 
Friend Wade : New York. 
I think that the Journal is the very best paper published, 
of its kind. It contains more original matter than others 
of its class. By the way, did you ever notice that the Re- 
view always copies your best articles (Fes, and usually with- 
out credit . — Ed). Your engravings are of a better class 
than those in the other papers. H. A. Brown. 
Dear Editor : French Hay, Va. 
Please accept my thanks for the specimen copies of your 
poultry paper, with which I am much pleased. It deserves 
to be well sustained. T. J. Wooldridge. 
Mr. Jos. M. Wade. Stamford, Ct. 
Dear Sir : I received a second number of the Fanciers’ 
Journal , and am greatly pleased with it. I received about 
thirty letters in answer to my small advertisement, in the 
first number, and through that medium I disposed of nearly 
everything I offered. I send you another for next number, 
and subscription price for one year. I wish you com- 
plete success in your undertaking. J. F. Ferris. 
Mr. Wade. Watertown, N. J. 
Dear Sir: I have received specimen copies of the Fan- 
ciers’ Journal , and after reading them through, am satisfied 
that it is the especial need of the day, and hope your finan- 
cial success may be proportionate. Bobert J. Holmes. 
$gg“ Muskrats are very mischievous among crops which 
lie near their haunts, but they ought to be utterly exter- 
minated by every means in the farmer’s power, on account 
of the immense and unceasing injury in cutting through 
dams and embankments, breaking the banks of ditches, and 
burrowing in, through, and across drains, opened and cov- 
ered. No more mercy should be shown them than to the 
pestilent field-mouse. 
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