268 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL soURNAL. [lL Apriz, 1902. 
came into competition with my first Palace winners at the last Liverpool show, 
where the hen illustrated took first and the cock second. In addition to this, 
they have won a number of first and special prizes at leading English shows. 
The old cock has never been exhibited until a few weeks ago, when 
he took first against 1900 and 1901 birds of excellent quality at Bentham. 
When allowed a free range, the Campines are wonderful foragers, ranging: 
over a large extent of ground, and practically earning their own living. ‘They 
are very alert, and, when alarmed, can fly to a great height. I have, however, 
found in practice that, in ordinary circumstances, a 6-foot wire fence is. 
sufficient to keep them within bounds. They are a very “friendly” breed, and 
on short acquaintance will eat out of the attendant’s hand. They are 
non-sitters, lay a good-sized white egg, ranging from 2 to 2} oz., and are the 
most prolific race ] have ever kept. 
My interest in the breed was first aroused in 1897 on reading an account 
of a tour through Belgium undertaken by Mr. A. F. Hunter, late editor of 
your contemporary, Farm Poultry, and our Mr. Brown, F.LS., secretary of 
the Nation Poultry Organisation Society, with the object of ascertaining the 
position of the Belgian poultry industry, in which they referred to the 
wonderful laying properties of the Campine. 
* a * * 
My request to the artist was to draw the actual birds, not imaginary 
ideals, and I must say the lady has succeeded in producing a most faithful and! 
lifelike drawing. 
The Campine is an old Belgian breed, and derives its name from the 
‘“‘Campine District ” in that country, where it has earned for itself the soubriquet 
““noules pond tous le jours,’ or “‘ every-day” layers. 
The breed has been developed by the Belgians on utility lines with a view 
to quantity any size of eggs, and they have paid very little attention to plumage 
and fancy points. 
When hatched both Gold and Silver chicks are a golden brown colour, the 
Golds being a darker shade. The chickens are hardy, feather quickly, and are 
extremely precocious, the cockerels crowing in many cases under five weeks 
old. At six to eight weeks they are as plump as a partridge, with plenty of 
meat on the breast. 
The weight of adults runs about 5} lb. for cocks and 4% Ib. for hens, and 
these were the standard weights originally fixed; but as it was found the size 
was rapidly increasing the weight was left open when revising the standard. 
Tt will be seen from the illustration that the plumage of the Silver hen 
somewhat resembles a pencilled Hamburg, being white-barred, with broad 
greenish-black markings, except the neck hackle, which is white. The cock, 
unlike the Hamburg, has a pencilled breast, and most adult specimens have at 
present more or less white on shoulder or wing and saddle. In order to avoid 
that bane of many otherwise good breeds, ‘‘ double mating,” the Campine Club 
has now made the English standard for plumage of cocks the same as for hens. 
They have blue legs, white lobes, and single combs, the latter upright in cocks, 
falling over in hens. They have a very smart and graceful appearance, with a 
lull, prominent dark eye, and command admiration from the most casual 
observer. 
For information as to the Campine standard, general characteristics, 
colour, scale of points for the guidance of judges, and disqualification, we refer 
our readers to the February issue of the Journal, page 102. 
