,transcriber ,note ,obvious typos and punctuation errors corrected4 ,inconsistencies in hyphenation retained4 ,description of illustrations without captions has been added4 ,italics are indicated by underscores surrounding the italic text4 ,small capitals have been converted to ,,all ,,caps4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,hamburgs ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,the ,book of the ,hamburgs1 ,a ,,brief ,,treatise ,,upon ,,the ,,mating1 ,,rearing ,,and ,,management ,,of ,,the ,,different ,,varieties ,,of ,,hamburgs4 ,,by ,l4 ,,frank ,,baum4 ,,hartford1 ,,conn43 ,h4 ,h4 ,,stoddard1 ,,publisher4 #ahhf4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,copyright1 #ahhf1 by ,h4 ,h4 ,,stoddard1 ,hartford1 ,conn4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,the ,book of the ,hamburgs4 ,long before what we now call 8fancy fowls0 were known or recognized 7in fact1 long before the memory of any person now living71 ,hamburgs were kept and bred to feather among the peasants of ,yorkshire and ,lancashire in ,england1 and by them exhibited at the small town and county fairs in their neighborhood4 ,of course they were then known under different names1 the ,blacks being called 8,black ,pheasant ,fowls0 and the ,spangled varieties 8,lancashire ,mooneys0 and 8,yorkshire ,pheasants02 while such a variety as the ,penciled ,hamburgs were either wholly unknown or else were so little thought of that they have left no record of their origin1 if1 indeed1 they are natives of ,england at all4 ,,early ,,history4 ,mr4 ,wright1 who has traced these fowls back still further1 inclines to the belief that at some period whereof we have no knowledge the ,penciled varieties formed a part of the ,hamburg family1 although our earliest positive knowledge traces them to direct importations from ,holland1 where they were brought in great numbers1 and were originally known under the names of 8,dutch ,everyday ,layers0 or 8,dutch ,everlasting ,layers40 ,as such a thing as a black or spangled variety of this fowl was utterly unknown in ,holland1 it is presumable that at some period the penciled varieties were exported to ,holland and there bred and cherished1 while they were allowed to run out or sink into insignificance in ,england4 ,we cling to this belief so tenaciously on account of the wonderful similitude which marks the characteristics of the ,hamburg family1 in spite of the fact that one branch came from ,holland and the other is emphatically ,english4 ,these two branches1 namely1 the ,penciled and the ,spangles and ,blacks1 resemble no other varieties of fowls in the slightest degree1 while their common characteristics are the absence of the incubating instinct1 clean1 slender legs1 neat rose combs1 small1 round and white ear-lobes1 and the light1 but sweeping and graceful1 lines of form which are wholly their own and unapproachable by any other breed of fowls1 no matter how fine their symmetry4 ,if this were not enough to stamp them with certainty of having one origin1 we mark the fact that spangled chickens are frequently penciled in their first feathers2 while1 as they mature1 the black spangles or moons are often surmounted by a light tip beyond them1 thus again approaching the penciled character1 while conversely it will be found that if penciled birds be bred too dark the last bar has a strong tendency to become too wide1 thus approaching a spangled character4 ,if we consider the utter want of interest with which poultry was regarded in the earlier days1 and the fact that no traditions of any account relating to fowls have been handed down1 we may be justified in believing that these facts prove our conjectures in regard to the original identity of these varieties to be correct4 ,from whence their common progenitor came1 we can have no idea1 but that they did have one we strongly believe4 ,it may have been that they came from the ,blacks1 as that variety is thought to be the oldest1 and a cross might have resulted in the broken color1 or possibly these ,blacks having a number of white feathers may have been bred together until a distinctly-marked plumage had been obtained4 ,bearing in mind1 however1 that ,aldrovandus speaks of a fowl which strongly resembles the penciled variety as ,gallina ,turcica1 it is possible that the ,penciled was the original variety1 and1 as the name suggests1 of ,eastern origin4 ,these conjectures and hypotheses are perplexing and unsatisfactory1 and are really of no practical value1 being only of use in affording another instance of the fascinating problems which constantly present themselves to the poultry fancier of a philosophical and inquiring turn of mind4 ,this much appears to be certain3 that of all our many varieties of fancy fowls the ,hamburg is by odds the oldest2 indeed1 ,mr4 ,wingfield claims that old records show that fowls with all the ,hamburg characteristics were bred in the yards of monasteries as early as the fourteenth century4 ,at the great ,birmingham show the authorities there1 recognizing the general resemblance between the ,penciled1 ,spangled and ,black varieties1 and the inconvenience of their numerous and varied appellations1 grouped them together under the general name of ,,hamburgs1 by which they have been known since1 fanciers accepting with alacrity a name which was at once convenient in classing the breeds and which brought the separated members of what was no doubt a distinct family together1 as it is most certain they belong and should be arranged4 ,many breeders who have no knowledge of the deliberations at ,birmingham have been puzzled to guess why the name ,hamburg should have been chosen to designate a family which was mainly ,english1 but these 8fathers of the fraternity0 had too much business to transact to allow them to inquire very carefully into the early history of this fowl4 ,the ,rev4 ,e4 ,s4 ,dixon proposed 8that as the penciled varieties were then imported by the ,levant merchants from the port of ,hamburg they should all take the general name of ,hamburgs10 and1 indeed1 this term is as euphonious and convenient as any other could be4 ,,characteristics ,,of ,,hamburgs4 ,in usefulness and beauty the ,hamburgs stand very prominently amongst that numerous collection of fowls which our broad nomenclature denominates 8fancy poultry40 ,the plumage of every variety1 either ,penciled or ,spangled1 ,silver1 ,golden or ,black1 is at once beautiful and striking1 attracting the attention of strangers to the poultry yard or exhibition room when all other breeds have failed to interest them1 and drawing from them involuntary tributes of admiration4 ,and if they are so much admired by cold and superficial observers1 surely the ,hamburg fancier may be pardoned for his unbounded enthusiasm for his favorites when every season and nearly every day unfolds new beauties in his birds and renders them more fascinating and delightful to his eye4 ,the exquisite symmetry1 the novel and shapely rose combs1 the snowy and delicate ear-lobes1 the tapering blue legs and graceful carriage give them an aristocratic and 8dressed up0 appearance and render them the most beautiful of our domestic fowls4 ,the ,hamburg fancier has plenty of scope in which to indulge his taste1 the different colors and markings affording an ample variety from which to choose1 while the general characteristics are the same4 8,hamburgs10 says ,mr4 ,beldon in ,lewis ,wright's poultry book1 8are without doubt the most beautiful breed of poultry we possess1 as well as the most useful1 all varieties being alike elegant and beautiful4 ,the dweller in the country will generally prefer the ,silver1 while the citizen will take the ,golden or ,black2 but all of them1 in their matchless variety of marking and color1 will delight the eye with the utmost degree which is perhaps possible of beauty in fowls4 ,their marvelous beauty1 however1 would not recommend the ,hamburgs to the practical breeder so much as their wonderful egg-producing qualities1 which it has been claimed surpass those of any other breed4 ,the wonderful stories told of ,hamburg productiveness1 while often more amusing than reliable1 serve to show that in any hands1 in any climate and under the most adverse circumstances they have proved very profitable to their owners1 while with ordinary care they are the best of layers40 ,the average ,hamburg pullet will begin laying at four or five months of age1 and will lay from #aej to #bjj eggs the first year under favorable circumstances4 ,the second and third years hens will average from #age to #bbe eggs when properly cared for1 and from the third year their productiveness gradually declines1 although one reliable breeder asserts that he once owned a ,black ,hamburg hen which at five years of age laid #bbj eggs in ten months4 ,a great deal depends upon the strain of birds and the care they receive1 as if productive traits are cherished and carefully bred for1 the number of eggs may be greatly increased1 while neglect to properly cultivate this quality by careless and incompetent breeders will result in a marked decrease in productiveness4 ,the absence of the incubating instinct has much to do with the productiveness for which ,hamburgs are noted1 as no time is lost in sitting or brooding the chicks4 ,some breeders claim that ,hamburgs never attempt to sit4 ,this is incorrect4 ,we have known cases1 although we acknowledge they are rare1 where ,hamburg hens have hatched and reared goodly broods of chickens1 in every case proving themselves steady sitters and excellent mothers2 nor was there a particle of tainted blood in their veins1 these being merely cases where that wonderful instinct which is common to nearly all fowls will 8crop out0 occasionally in every variety of non-sitting fowls4 ,it is not necessarily due to a former cross1 but may be occasioned by 8reversion0 to which we attribute everything that we do not understand in nature's domain4 ,this non-sitting instinct is of double value to the ,hamburgs1 as they do not lose half their feathers during incubation1 but maintain their sleek appearance through the entire season1 and when they do moult they moult easily and rapidly1 seldom or never being left for a time denuded of feathers1 as are most other breeds1 but the new feathers making their appearance as the old ones drop out1 so that they are never an eyesore to their owners4 ,indeed1 they seem to change their coats so easily that it is no rare thing for hens to lay as steadily during this ordinarily trying process as at any other time4 ,they should1 however1 have an extra allowance of feed at this time1 and a little tincture of iron in their drinking water or a few rusty nails placed in the drinking pans will strengthen and tone up their systems4 ,to do their best1 ,hamburgs should have free range4 ,mr4 ,beldon1 though greatly overdrawing their need for this luxury1 attaches so much importance to it that he says3 8,they are of little use penned up1 in which state they pine and mope for liberty2 that bright cheerfulness which is common to them disappears1 and from being the happiest they become the most wretched of birds40 ,though ,mr4 ,beldon may have found this the case1 our own experience has been that no small breeds of fowls will stand the tedium of a long and severe winter in close quarters better than the ,hamburgs4 ,in fact1 all you need is to keep them busy1 and they will seem happy and contented4 ,still1 the larger the grass run they have in summer the greater their productiveness and the better they will do4 ,they are very small eaters1 and when at liberty are excellent foragers1 being up at break of day and away rummaging the fields and pastures in search of food4 ,their quick eye at once espies their prey1 and 8woe to the poor worm that happens on that particular morning to have got up a little too early40 ,every corner is searched with indefatigable zeal1 and by the time the man gets around in the morning to feed them they have made a good breakfast and are ready for the business of the day4 ,perfect liberty or a large grass run are valuable adjuncts to health and egg production4 ,give it them if you possibly can4 ,as a rule ,hamburgs are a healthy breed1 being little subject to the common ailments of poultry4 ,one of our correspondents writes3 8,they are remarkably hardy1 often enduring hardships that to other breeds mean disease and death with successful fortitude4 ,i have had young ,hamburg chicks pecked by the mother of a rival flock and virtually #8scalped' in her insane jealousy1 the skin being torn from the head down the entire back1 and yet the youngster would trot around as lively as though nothing had happened1 and not only get well but flourish4 ,sometimes the feathers would grow out upon the #8skinned' place1 and sometimes it would always retain a smooth appearance4 ,i have now a hen1 which we consider one of our best breeders1 without a vestige of feathering upon her entire back1 owing to a like accident in her youth4 ,the chicks are very easily reared4 ,of course they must have proper care1 as they cannot rear themselves2 but with a moderate degree of attention no trouble will be found in raising them to maturity4 8,taken as a whole we consider the ,hamburgs as hardly excelled by any other fowl for the farmer1 fancier or poulterer4 ,on a good homestead they will keep themselves1 and if well attended to will pay better than any other farm stock in proportion to the investment4 ,in fine1 ,i feel perfectly safe in an assertion that in no one breed will be found so much beauty and usefulness1 and so many excellent qualities1 as in the several varieties of the ,hamburg family1 while in the one item of egg production they stand to-day where they did hundreds of years ago1 unrivaled by any domestic fowl40 ,this is a statement of one who is full of enthusiasm1 but it may be noted that only a superior breed of fowls would excite so much commendation in a breeder who has been familiar with them from his youth4 ,,black ,,hamburgs4 ,although there is no certainty that this is the oldest variety of fowls1 still1 as it has a pedigree of nearly #bjj years1 it is presumable that it was the oldest variety of the ,hamburg family4 ,mr4 ,beldon considers the claims of the ,spangles and ,blacks to be about equal as regards age1 and rather favors the former4 ,however1 a passage in an old book published in ,london in #agjb by ,thomas ,sutlief1 entitled 8,a trip to the ,north of ,england10 has induced us to believe that the ,blacks were the oldest breed4 ,it says3 8,one of my pleasant reminiscences of this county 7,lancaster7 is the pleasure with which ,i regarded their pretty fowl1 the ,black ,pheasants1 as they call them1 and which furnished me many a delicious fresh egg for my breakfast4444 ,the stout peasants regard them with much favor1 and point with pride to their white ears and flat combs40 ,it would seem from this that not only were they the favorite fowls1 but that they then possessed in a great measure their present characteristics4 ,if the spangled birds were then known they surely could not have fallen under the observation of this writer1 who would have been sure to have noted them from their striking appearance4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,black ,,hamburgs4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,be that as it may1 ,black ,hamburgs are known to have been bred in ,lancashire long before the poultry-showing era1 and were called by the peasants ,black ,pheasants4 ,they had the rose comb1 but it was much larger than in our present birds1 and not nearly so well formed4 ,they also had the white ear-lobe1 despite the claims of many breeders that this desirable point came from a cross with the ,spanish4 ,there is no doubt that many ,blacks have ,spanish blood in them1 and some prominent ,english breeders openly acknowledge its existence in their strains4 ,but we have birds to-day that have never known a particle of ,spanish blood in their composition1 which possess superior qualities over those with the ,spanish cross1 and which have the white ear-lobe in all its beauty and perfection4 ,in a recent letter ,mr4 ,beldon says3 8,the ,black ,hamburgs ,i remember perfectly well when ,i first began the poultry fancy some twenty-seven years ago1 but they were not commonly bred at that time4 ,they were a large bird1 with rather coarse combs4 ,since then the ,spanish cross has been used to produce them2 in fact1 ,i have known them to be bred from a ,black ,spanish and ,spangled ,hamburg1 and by careful selection brought to much perfection1 with better black plumage1 bright red faces and pure white ear-lobes40 ,black ,pheasants did not formerly possess the exquisite symmetry which is so marked in our present birds1 being coarse and short-legged1 while the most attention was paid to that resplendent greenish sheen which forms their chief attraction and renders them to-day the most beautiful of black fowls4 ,there have been many and clever expedients devised to show that the ,black ,hamburgs came from crossing4 ,mr4 ,seebay says3 8,i have been told by reliable persons that ,black ,pheasants have been shown for prizes1 such as copper kettles1 etc41 more than a hundred years before my time4 ,the true ,silver-,spangled is almost black in one stage of its chicken plumage1 and as ,i have known them produce chickens almost black1 and as the shape of the ,spangles and ,blacks is exactly the same1 ,i had always thought one sprung from the other40 ,this theory is the most plausible one we know of1 and is also endorsed by ,mr4 ,sergeantson4 ,the most absurd assertion is that they are the result of a cross between the ,golden-,spangled ,hamburgs and the ,spanish1 which is easily refuted by our positive knowledge of their great age4 ,there is no doubt but that some ,black ,hamburgs 7so-called7 have been made from this cross1 as ,mr4 ,beldon says2 but the unfortunate breeder who gets any of these fowls into his yards1 will soon discover from a plentiful sprinkling of single combs in his chicks and a general want of fixed characteristics1 that he has been imposed upon4 ,it is not of great importance to know exactly how they did originate1 as from a practical point of view it is enough to know that they are now a firmly established breed of great beauty and undoubted excellence4 ,the ,black ,hamburgs lay the largest eggs of any variety of this breed1 while in numbers they fully equal the ,spangled and ,penciled4 ,they are therefore much sought after by those who wish to obtain eggs for the market as well as for the table1 and are perhaps the most popular variety of ,hamburgs4 ,plumage4--,this is the most important point in the ,black ,hamburg1 though it has been much neglected by ,american breeders4 ,it should be exceedingly soft1 the feathers having a feeling as of satin to the hand1 and a deep but distinct and beautiful gloss or tinge4 ,much weight should be given to this in both sexes1 although it can be cultivated to a greater extent in the female than in the male4 ,this green gloss should not appear on the end of the feathers only1 but throughout the entire plumage--the greener and richer the color the better4 ,to be seen to advantage this beautiful gloss should be viewed in a strong light or when the sun is upon the bird4 ,you then see that sheen in which they surpass all other black fowls4 ,the color required is the green black2 the purple1 bluish or raven black so often seen is very undesirable1 and should be avoided4 ,these colors are so distinct that there is no liability to mistake the true shade4 ,some strains are of a deep blue green1 almost a steel blue2 these have green tails4 ,other strains are of a lighter green2 these have bronze green tails4 ,the purer the green and the less admixture of any other tinge the better4 ,never breed from birds which seem to be penciled with bluish purple4 ,it is often caused by a late and protracted moult1 and may appear in birds which as chicks had the green tinge in all its perfection2 but more often it is hereditary4 ,lancashire fanciers called this mazarine1 and it appeared principally on backs of hens or flights of cocks4 ,as we have mentioned1 this glossy tinge is not so uniform on the male as the female birds1 and this is seemingly in direct opposition to the usual decrees of ,nature1 which seems to have ordained that the male part of creation be more brilliant than the opposite gender4 ,we are pleased to observe1 however1 a marked improvement in the plumage of cocks of late years1 and hope to see the time when the male bird will show this characteristic as fully as the female4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,black ,,hamburgs4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,in ,black ,hamburg cocks the breast1 back1 shoulders and tail should be a rich green1 the wing-coverts exceedingly brilliant and the outer web of the secondaries 7i4 e41 the whole of the lower part of the closed wing7 almost as bright2 the lesser tail-coverts are also very rich in color4 ,tegetmeier speaks of spangling being visible in ,black ,hamburgs when seen in the sunlight4 ,the birds he examined must have been decidedly poor ones1 or perhaps it was his misfortune to see those birds compounded of ,golden-,spangled ,hamburgs and ,spanish which we have spoken of4 ,such cross-bred birds will show the iridescent green spangle ,mr4 ,tegetmeier has spoken of1 but which we have never been able to discern on good birds of a pure strain4 ,occasionally rich red or orange colored feathers will crop out in ,black ,hamburg cockerels--very seldom in pullets4 ,these red feathers come from what we suppose was pheasant blood at some remote period introduced into these birds1 or perhaps a part of their original make-up1 and do not by any means prove the existence of impure blood4 ,it is the result of our strenuous efforts to keep up and improve the greenish luster1 and invariably comes from highly colored birds4 ,these birds are sometimes of great use to breeders1 and enable us to obtain finely colored birds by mating them with dead-black pullets4 ,but while we may tolerate an occasional showing of red feathers 7which only appear in the hackle1 as in the ,golden ,pheasant71 we must be very severe on birds showing those of another color--namely1 white feathers4 ,there seems to be a natural tendency to show the white feathers in all black fowls1 and this evil has been so stubborn to eradicate that ,mr4 ,felch1 at a meeting of the ,american ,poultry ,association1 offered a resolution to allow white tips to appear in exhibition birds4 ,the many evils which would thus arise from lowering our ideal ,standard for this magnificent variety were so obvious that the members of that ,association promptly rejected the resolution at a later meeting in ,cleveland1 ,ohio4 ,we know not whether most to blame the futile efforts of ,mr4 ,felch to accommodate the variety to the wants of a few incompetent breeders1 or to applaud the wisdom of our brethren of the ,a4 ,p4 ,a4 in 8squelching0 such innovations4 ,they surely have the thanks of all honest breeders of ,black ,hamburgs1 which can be bred black as well as any other variety of black fowls1 if we only have patience and honestly strive to eradicate this serious fault1 which1 if allowed1 would work to the disadvantage of all4 ,comb4--,there is no style of comb so difficult to breed to perfection as the rose comb1 and the excellent combs shown on ,black and ,spangled ,hamburgs at our recent shows prove how much can be accomplished by judicious breeding4 ,to our eye it is beautiful and elegant1 and forms one of the chief attractions of the ,hamburg4 ,it should be a deep1 rich red2 not so large as to overhang the eyes or beak2 square in front2 fitting close and straight on the head2 not inclining to one side2 not hollow in the center--on the contrary1 we prefer a slight rise in the center1 although an even comb throughout is better4 ,it should be uniform on each side2 the top covered with small points1 and terminating in a spike behind1 which inclines upward very slightly4 ,the absence of this spike is a grave defect1 which if a natural blemish disqualifies a bird by the ,american ,standard of ,excellence1 as does likewise a comb so large as to obstruct the sight4 ,ear-,lobes4--,the ear-lobe is one of the most striking features of the ,black ,hamburg1 and in connection with the bright red comb and greenish plumage1 form a tout ensemble such as no one can see without admiring4 ,the ear-lobe on the old ,black ,hamburgs was smaller than it is nowadays1 although it is noticeable that those birds which have been kept pure have a smaller and finer ear-lobe than those which were crossed with the ,spanish4 ,as we have before observed1 ,mr4 ,beldon 7in common with some other breeders1 who all ought to know better7 has thought that the white ear-lobe was only introduced by the ,spanish cross1 an error which we have furnished abundant evidence to refute2 so that really all that was gained by this unnecessary cross was a large1 pendent ear-lobe1 which is totally at variance with our accepted ideas as to what a ,hamburg ear-lobe should be4 ,it has been allowed by most judges1 until quite recently1 to be a little larger in the ,blacks than in any other variety of ,hamburgs1 but it must be pure white1 well rounded1 lying smoothly and close to the face1 like a piece of white kid glove1 and the smaller the better4 ,a large1 pendent ear-lobe1 like that of the ,spanish and ,leghorns1 is certainly a grave blemish2 nor should it be wrinkled or puffy1 or at all tinged with red about the edges4 ,the ,face4--,one of our chief difficulties in breeding ,hamburgs is the tendency to white in the face1 which should be a deep1 rich crimson1 almost scarlet4 ,a white face is a positive disqualification1 and a dark gypsy face much to be avoided4 ,both these latter defects owe their origin to the ,spanish cross1 although white specks in the face will often appear in pure-bred birds as they advance in age4 ,by careful breeding1 and judiciously selecting those cocks which retain a pure red face1 this may be entirely bred out1 while breeding from birds showing the white face fixes the defect in the progeny1 and causes much trouble to the breeder before it can be eradicated4 ,it is rare to find a two or three-year-old cock which does not show a patch of white under the eye or near the ear-lobe2 but the graver and more common the fault1 the more pains should be taken to breed it out1 and we have no doubt but the time will soon come when such a thing as a white-specked face in the show room will be unknown4 ,we trust efforts will be made in this direction4 ,legs and ,tail4--,the legs should be a dark1 leaden blue1 approaching black1 in young birds1 as the tendency is to grow light with age4 ,light blue legs in a cockerel or pullet are very objectionable4 ,the tail in male birds should be long1 well curved1 and graceful1 flowing rather backward from the rump4 ,a squirrel tail is a grave fault--a disqualification1 in fact--as is also a wry tail or one carried constantly to one side4 ,wry tails have various causes1 originating sometimes from accident1 but they are often hereditary1 and wry-tailed birds should never be used for breeding4 ,often the cramped quarters of an exhibition coop will render a bird temporarily wry-tailed1 or rather induce it for a time to carry it to one side4 ,this will usually disappear when the bird is given full range1 but is quite an unfortunate circumstance1 as a prize bird is often thrown out on this account4 ,symmetry4--,this means a great deal in ,hamburgs2 and as no breed is more symmetrical or graceful in form1 particular pains should be taken to prevent them from running into a ,game or ,dorking shape4 ,we have often seen breeders send birds to the show room which were good in all other points1 but most degenerate in symmetry4 ,we heard a prominent judge say lately that 8symmetry could not be expressed2 it was something about which every man had his own ideas1 and applied to birds according to his judgment40 ,each breed has its distinct symmetry of proportions1 and it would be no more absurd to expect a ,cochin shape on a ,hamburg than it is to admit a ,hamburg to be well proportioned with the slender neck1 long legs1 and high station of a ,game1 or the heavy1 square and dumpy appearance of the ,dorking4 ,in fact they must be real ,hamburgs in shape2 neck medium length1 and carried well over the back2 back not very long or very short2 breast full1 prominent and wide2 wings good size1 the points carried comparatively low2 tail ample and well spread out1 and carried rather erect2 thighs well rounded and of medium length2 shanks slender1 smooth and neat2 carriage showing gracefulness and activity4 ,by no means must they carry the idea of being ,black ,dorkings1 or ,rose-combed ,spanish1 or worse yet1 untrimmed ,games4 ,avoid also narrow bodies and whip tails4 ,points in ,breeding ,black ,hamburgs4--,in mating any variety for breeding1 the faults to which they are most liable should be borne in mind1 and the breeder's one idea be to breed them out1 and so perfect the birds as much as possible4 ,this in some instances may take years of careful and painstaking matings2 years of disappointment and chagrin may follow1 as we see the defects still cropping out1 and realize the failure of all our carefully-laid plans4 ,but how glorious is the feeling enjoyed by the fancier when at last skill triumphs1 and he beholds in a numerous and nearly perfected progeny the result of years of toil and study4 ,then it is that he hies him joyfully to the show room2 then it is that he triumphs over the breeder who has so long plucked the premiums from under his nose2 and as he returns home1 after enjoying his first genuine success1 his thoughts are employed as to the best means of further improving his birds2 and to such men--studious1 painstaking and persevering--we owe that perfection in our domestic fowls which is so astonishing1 considering the short time that has been devoted to their improvement1 and which ought to convince us how pliable and plastic fancy poultry is in the hands of an intelligent breeder4 ,do not be discouraged by failure at first--keep trying1 and the time must and will come when your efforts shall be crowned with success4 ,black ,hamburgs are not a very difficult fowl to breed1 when you go about it understandingly4 ,in selecting breeding stock1 we again say1 bear in mind the defects to which they are heir--namely1 badly-shaped combs1 white faces1 pendent and over-sized ear-lobes1 legginess1 and white or red feathers4 ,at shows color in cocks is not regarded so much as it is in pullets--not nearly so much as it ought to be4 8,although10 says ,mr4 ,sergeantson1 8other things being equal1 color will carry the day40 ,therefore for breeding cockerels1 choose the best combed birds2 good1 red faces1 free from white2 round1 small ear-lobes2 free from red or colored feathers in any part of the plumage1 and short legs1 broad breast and back4 ,squirrel tails result quite often from narrow-bodied birds1 and this1 besides being very objectionable1 is hereditary1 so bear this last requisite well in mind4 ,we have said nothing about color in this mating1 for the reason that it is not considered of so much consequence in cockerels as in pullets2 but if1 with the above requisites1 you can find a male bird with good color1 you may breed in the progeny this very desirable quality4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,silver-,,spangled ,,hamburgs4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,now for pullet breeding 7if you are able to have two pens2 if not1 choose the above mating71 it is absolutely requisite that in addition to the above qualifications1 or as many of them as can be obtained1 a cock be found which has a brilliant luster to his plumage4 ,as we have intimated1 it is very difficult to find a cock with this brilliant plumage without a touch of red in hackle4 ,if you can obtain him1 well and good2 if not1 bear in mind the red feathers1 but use him1 for color in cock you must have above any other consideration for breeding pullets4 ,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,sergeantson1 whom we have before quoted1 and who had greater success than any other ,english breeder with this variety1 entirely agrees with us in this4 ,he says3 8,i would much rather choose for the purpose a red-hackled cock1 if good in other respects1 than a dull-colored one4 ,i have often bred beautiful1 lustrous pullets from hens with very little color1 when mated with a bright cock2 but never from a dull-colored cock1 however lustrous the hens with him might be40 ,moreover1 in this pen1 choose birds with small or moderately sized combs1 as there is a general tendency in combs of pullets to lop over1 if bred too large4 ,do not be discouraged1 if you cannot obtain all these points at once2 get as near to it as possible2 and every succeeding year will find you drawing nearer and nearer to that desired goal--perfection4 ,,the ,,silver-,,spangled ,,hamburg4 ,this variety is probably as well known and generally bred as any variety of fancy poultry we have1 and its continued popularity is conclusive proof of the high estimation in which it is held by fanciers throughout the land4 ,to the counties of ,lancashire and ,yorkshire the ,silver-,spangled ,hamburgs owe their present state of perfection1 although ,american breeders have done more in twenty years to perfect their combs1 ear-lobes and face than ,english fanciers have been able to accomplish in twice that time4 ,the plumage is essentially ,english1 and to ,english fanciers is due the credit for perfecting their beautiful markings4 ,in fact1 they were brought to a high standard of excellence in ,lancashire long before the first poultry show2 and this standard was clearly defined and adhered to by fanciers1 who were chary about admitting innovations as to their ideas4 ,they were originally called ,silver ,pheasants in ,yorkshire1 and ,silver ,mooneys in ,lancashire4 ,these latter1 while the most numerous and best bred1 admitted only hen-feathered cocks1 and were brought to a high state of perfection4 ,mr4 ,beldon says3 8,some of the old ,mooneys were absolute perfection in point of feather2 the spangling1 so large1 round and rich in color1 was really something to be wondered at1 and shows a skill and enthusiasm in breeding which1 in the absence of public shows in those days1 has about it something of the marvelous40 ,when poultry shows first came into fashion these ,mooneys received the lion's share of the awards at all the exhibitions1 until it came to be considered utter foolishness to pit any kind of fowl against them1 and they enjoyed their exalted position for several years unmolested4 ,at the expiration of this time1 however1 breeders of the ,mooneys were thrown into confusion by the sudden and unanimous decree of the judges that these 8hen-feathered ,mooneys0 were all humbug1 and not 8the correct thing10 inasmuch as so many of these 8hen-feathered0 cocks proved unprolific or imperfect that long-tailed birds were secretly used to keep up the breed4 ,there was so much evident truth in this that the struggle1 though sharp1 was of short duration2 the judges triumphed1 and the reign of the ,silver ,mooneys as show birds was over1 while the star of the ,silver ,pheasants steadily rose1 until nothing was recognized but the full-plumaged cocks1 though the hens still lacked the nice spangling which had rendered the ,lancashire birds so much admired1 the spangles being small and indistinct4 ,it may be well to state here that the ,yorkshire birds were the original variety1 the excellence in spangling attained by the ,lancashire fanciers being the result of judicious breeding4 ,the ,yorkshire birds had better symmetry1 whiter ear-lobes1 smaller combs and clearer tails1 and it is from them that our modern ,silver-,spangled ,hamburgs are descended4 ,they are fully up to the other varieties in productiveness1 and possess all the good traits of the breed1 while their exceeding beauty renders them remarkably attractive4 ,plumage4--,of course the spangling in the ,silver-,spangled ,hamburg is of primary importance1 and should be regarded with the utmost care4 ,as the spangling differs in the sexes1 we shall be obliged to describe them separately4 ,cock4--,the neck-hackle should be abundant1 descending well over the shoulders1 and in color1 silvery-white 7any approach to a yellowish tinge to be carefully avoided71 the longer feathers ending in a small diamond-shaped spangle1 and presenting a beautiful rayed appearance about the shoulders4 ,the back and saddle should have the same general style of feathers1 pure white in color1 except the small spangle near the end as in the neck-hackle1 avoiding any appearance of the yellowish tinge4 ,the breast feathers should be pure silvery-white1 each feather ending with a well-defined1 round1 large-sized greenish-black spangle or moon1 showing as little white on the tip as possible1 the spangles increasing in size in proportion as the feather increases in size4 ,the body and wing-feathers must have a similar moon-shaped spangle4 ,there is a tendency to indistinct or smutty markings in the tail1 which should be avoided4 ,the moons on the breast-feathers should be just large enough to give the breast a spangled appearance1 by allowing a little of the white beyond each moon to show4 ,the moons1 if too large1 give the breast a mossed or black appearance1 which is a defect4 ,the spangles on greater and lesser wing-coverts form two distinct bars across the wing1 which is very requisite in a well-marked bird4 ,care should be taken to avoid clear white feathers in back and saddle1 as they are very liable to appear in light-colored birds4 ,hen4--,the neck-hackle should be composed of clear1 silvery-white feathers1 each plainly striped near the end with greenish-black4 ,the back1 breast and body should be clear white1 each feather distinctly spangled with a large1 round and greenish-black moon1 as large as possible without the spangles running together and giving a mossy or black appearance in places4 ,the half-moon spangle should be avoided with much care in all feathers except the wing-secondaries1 where it is allowable in both sexes4 ,the wing-coverts1 greater or lesser1 should be clear1 silvery-white1 terminating in a large1 greenish-black1 round spangle1 and forming two parallel bars1 distinctly marked1 across the wing4 ,it is difficult to find a perfectly spangled tail without some black or smutty color in the main body of the feathers2 this is not so persistent a defect in the hen as in the cock1 and can be bred out of both1 if proper care is taken4 ,the feathers on the thighs should be as distinct as possible1 care being taken to prevent a mossy or laced appearance4 ,nothing can be more beautiful than a finely-spangled ,silver ,hamburg1 and when a perfect spangling is once attained1 it is easily continued in the progeny4 ,laced or half-moon feathers are a great eye-sore to the fancier1 and are often very troublesome1 although perhaps not more so than the indistinct markings on the tail1 once so common1 but which is now being replaced by clear1 well-spangled tails--another evidence of skillful breeding4 ,other ,points4--,the comb in ,silver-,spangled ,hamburgs should resemble exactly that described in our section on ,black ,hamburgs4 ,the ear-lobe should also be the same1 but is more easily bred to perfection in the ,spangled than in the ,black variety1 being naturally rather smaller and smoother2 but1 on the other hand1 more liable to red edges4 ,there is the same tendency to white in the face in ,silver-,spangled as in ,black ,hamburgs1 although in a lesser degree1 and there surely is no excuse for its cropping out here1 if ordinary care is taken to prevent it4 ,the carriage of ,silver-,spangled ,hamburgs is graceful in the extreme and constitutes one of their chief attractions2 indeed1 we think they are among the most stylish birds we have4 ,the legs should be slender1 neat and clean1 of medium length1 and in color1 blue or slaty-blue4 ,we have already described what constitutes good symmetry in a ,hamburg2 let it suffice to say that the ,silver-,spangled are essentially ,hamburg in this respect4 ,the disqualifications to which this variety is liable are absence of the wing-bars1 markings wholly crescent-shaped or of the half-moon character1 solid black breasts1 laced feathers1 squirrel tails1 red ear-lobes1 and the absence of spike in comb1 cocks hen-feathered4 ,the beak should be horn-color1 and the eyes a dark hazel4 ,care should be taken to avoid a black fluff in either sex1 as it is an especial abomination to the intelligent fancier4 ,points in ,breeding ,silver-,spangled ,hamburgs4--,we are obliged to acknowledge that unless you have a thorough knowledge of the strain you are breeding from1 there is considerable guess-work necessary in choosing a ,silver-,spangled ,hamburg cock for breeding2 for the reason that1 unlike most fowls1 there are frequent cases where a finely-marked cock will fail to throw a good percentage of well-marked chicks in his progeny4 ,so1 if you fail to procure a good breeder at first1 you must try again4 ,in the first place1 select a cock with good comb and ear-lobes1 as much spangling in back and saddle as possible1 good wing-bars1 and clear tail2 in fact1 a good1 deep-colored show cock1 and put him to the very best hens you can get4 ,care must be taken to avoid any grave faults on either side1 such as smudgy markings1 poor ear-lobes1 or overhanging1 coarse combs4 ,now see what you can do with this mating4 ,if you get a fair proportion of well-marked chicks1 stick to this pen as long as they will breed1 or the eggs are fertile1 for it is not every lot that breeds well together4 ,if you find that you are not getting a good proportion of fairly-marked birds1 you must change the cock1 procuring one from another strain1 and try your luck with him1 persevering until you get what you desire4 ,in all varieties of fowls there are some strains that will produce better cockerels than pullets1 and vice versa1 and ,hamburgs are no exception to the general rule4 ,you may1 therefore1 find it to your advantage to breed from two different yards1 provided you have sufficient room and the means of procuring the proper birds4 ,if a pen breeds excellent cockerels but poor pullets1 keep that pen for cockerel breeding1 as it is far better to breed good birds of one sex than middling birds of both sexes1 even if you have but one pen4 ,when you have a good pen of cockerel getters1 begin to look about for a yard which will breed fine pullets4 ,a little patience and perseverance will be amply repaid when at last you find yourself successful2 and when you do get what you want1 stick to it6 ,our instructions for mating ,silver-,spangled ,hamburgs are in toto as minute as ever have or can be given1 for the simple reason1 as we have said1 that your first matings 7unless you know the strain well7 must be greatly influenced by chance4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,golden-,,spangled ,,hamburgs4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,we might add that whenever you select a cock for breeding1 choose one of as much health and vigor as you can find possessing the other requisite points1 for we believe that nothing contributes more to distinct markings in chickens than parents that can give them vigorous constitutions and hardy characteristics4 ,,golden-,,spangled ,,hamburgs4 ,about thirty years ago1 when poultry shows first came into fashion1 there were two kinds of ,golden-,spangled ,hamburgs4 ,one was called the ,golden ,pheasants1 and was a fine1 large bird1 but as a rule the cocks were hen-feathered4 ,the spangling was very fine1 and the groundwork a dull bay1 but there was a great deal of smut in all their markings4 ,they were good layers1 had white ear-lobes1 and moderately good combs4 ,the other variety were called ,golden ,mooneys1 and in color and markings were very superior to the ,golden ,pheasants4 ,mr4 ,beldon1 in 8,wright's ,poultry ,book10 says3 8,i shall never forget my feelings of pleasure on first seeing the ,golden ,mooney hen4 ,she struck me as being something wonderful4 ,the ground color of the plumage in these fowls is of the very richest bay1 the spangling very bold and clear1 and of a green1 satin-looking black2 in fact1 the plumage was so rich and glossy that the full beauty of it could not be seen1 except in the sunshine1 but when it was seen1 it formed a picture never to be forgotten4 ,i am here speaking of the hen2 the cock's plumage was also of the very richest description40 ,the cocks1 however1 had solid black breasts and their ear-lobes consisted of little more than a bit of red skin1 such as we see upon ,games4 ,by degrees1 as hen-feathered cocks and red ear-lobes came to be considered great blemishes1 these two varieties were bred together1 and from them is derived our modern ,golden-,spangled ,hamburgs4 ,they are a little larger than the ,silver-,spangled2 but1 while they lay a trifle larger egg1 do not produce quite so many of them4 ,they are very hardy1 and exceedingly attractive in appearance1 being the richest colored of any variety of the ,hamburgs1 excepting the ,black4 ,plumage4--,the plumage of the ,golden-,spangled ,hamburgs differs in many respects from that of the ,silver-,spangled4 ,the ground color is a rich1 deep golden-bay1 and should be as even throughout as possible4 ,there is a tendency to run lighter in color under the breast and body4 ,this is a serious blemish4 ,the neck-hackle1 instead of being spangled1 as in the ,silver variety1 has a long black stripe running the entire length of the feather to the extremity of the tip4 ,this stripe should be a glossy1 greenish-black1 standing out well defined from the ground color1 and not clouded4 ,the saddle is composed of similar feathers4 ,both saddle and hackle should be abundant1 the latter flowing well over the shoulders1 especially in the cocks--of course the females have no saddles4 ,the breast1 back and body feathers should be a rich1 golden-bay1 each feather ending with a large1 distinct1 round1 black spangle1 having a rich greenish luster4 ,the wing primaries and secondaries in the cock are bay on the outer web1 and black on the inner web1 each feather ending with a black1 metallic crescent4 ,on the hen the primaries and secondaries are a clear golden-bay1 each feather ending with a black1 metallic crescent4 ,the wing-bows should be a clear1 deep golden-bay1 each feather tipped with a large1 round1 greenish-black spangle2 the greater and lesser wing-coverts a clear golden-bay1 each feather ending with a large1 oblong1 greenish-black spangle1 forming two distinct bars1 parallel across the wing4 ,the tail should be a rich greenish-black in both sexes1 full and well expanded4 ,in cocks the sickles are well curved and glossy1 and the tail-feathers abundant and of a rich1 metallic luster4 ,one of the most common defects in this variety is feathers tipped beyond the spangle with a small edging of bay or white2 sometimes both appear1 one beyond the other4 ,although this is to be avoided1 it is not a direct disqualification4 ,we have often seen it appear upon old birds whose plumage was previously entirely innocent of such markings1 and it is rare1 indeed1 to find a pair of old exhibition birds entirely without it1 to say nothing of breeding fowls4 ,it makes its appearance chiefly upon the breast and body1 but is also frequently seen in the hackle4 ,we hope to see the time when this defect shall be wholly eradicated4 ,the white tips are the most objectionable1 but are nearly as common as the bay edgings to the spangles4 ,the entire plumage should be close and glossy1 and very rich and uniform in color and markings4 ,other ,points4--,the comb on ,golden-,spangled ,hamburgs is liable to be coarse and large1 although in finely-bred birds we often find as good combs as are ever seen upon the other varieties4 ,a tendency to red edgings in ear-lobes 7which should be a pure white7 is also to be avoided4 ,in size this variety surpasses the ,silver-,spangled ,hamburgs1 but they lose in symmetry usually what they gain in size1 consequently symmetry is a point which should be carefully looked after4 ,there is not much tendency to white face1 which is seldom observed in birds of this variety4 ,the legs should be of medium length1 shanks clean and slender1 and in color leaden-blue4 ,the tail is one of their chief beauties1 and should claim much attention from the breeder1 care being taken to guard against wry or squirrel tails1 which are very liable to descend to the offspring4 ,points in mating ,golden-,spangled ,hamburgs4--,we do not know of a single case where any one has given instructions for mating this variety which are at all clear or definite1 or offer the slightest assistance to the breeder4 ,even our distinguished ,english contemporaries give it up in despair4 ,one of our correspondents writes as follows3 8,at a large exhibition several years ago we inquired of a gentleman who had won nearly all the awards on ,golden ,spangles--and with excellently marked birds1 too--what his system or mating was by which he procured such fine birds4 ,with something that resembled a sneer at our remarks1 he said3 #8,i let them breed themselves6' ,we had then been trying our best for some time to study the characteristics of the breed1 in order to obtain some clue by which to mate them properly2 and this remark1 together with the living proofs of the good results of such indiscriminate matings before our eyes1 we must confess rather staggered us4 ,we went home and carefully thought it over1 and adhering to our former notions that science would finally triumph1 we persevered in our experimental matings1 and had the pleasure two years after of defeating the same breeder most thoroughly in the show room4 ,his birds were by this time little more than mongrels--the result of his plan to #8let them breed themselves6'0 ,in breeding this variety there should be two pens--one to breed males1 and one females4 ,in breeding for cockerels1 select a large1 well-marked cock1 whose ground color is a deep1 rich golden-bay throughout1 free from smutty or cloudy markings1 with fine1 glossy plumage1 the spangles of which possess in a high degree the beautiful metallic1 greenish luster4 ,with him mate pullets of medium color 7care being taken not to have them too light or dark in the ground color71 whose spangles are large and distinct1 without running into each other and giving them an undesirable spotted appearance4 ,these pullets should possess good glossy plumage1 but size is not requisite1 nor need they necessarily have extra-fine combs and ear-lobes1 provided the cock possesses these desirable qualities in a marked degree1 for it is from him that these qualities are inherited1 while the pullet furnishes the color and markings in a greater degree4 ,especial pains should be taken to choose a cock with a small1 fine comb and pure white ear-lobes1 when they can be found in connection with the requisite points mentioned4 ,in breeding for pullets choose a dark-colored cockerel1 with good ear-lobes1 small comb and good symmetry1 and simply mate him with the very best hens you can find4 ,there is a tendency in hens of this variety to become a rather dull1 light bay in ground color as they grow aged--these are the very hens to mate with the above-described cockerel4 ,care should be taken to procure the very best comb1 ear-lobes1 and symmetry you can find4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,silver-,,penciled ,,hamburgs4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,with these matings you can hardly fail to breed a good proportion of fine chicks2 but1 as we have said in connection with the ,silver-,spangled ,hamburgs1 you may not find a cock at first that will prove a good breeder4 ,if not1 you must keep on trying4 ,in both the varieties of ,spangled ,hamburgs the strain has a great deal to do in furnishing good breeders4 8,blood will tell20 and we should call the attention of the breeder of both these varieties to the necessity of establishing a strain of his own as soon as possible1 whose good qualities he will be able to know thoroughly1 and whose bad ones he will promptly recognize and endeavor to counterbalance by proper matings4 ,,silver-,,penciled ,,hamburgs4 ,we have already stated that the ,penciled ,hamburgs were imported into ,england from ,holland1 where they first attracted the attention of ,english fanciers1 and although there can be no possible doubt in the mind of an intelligent observer that they originally possessed1 with the ,spangled and ,black varieties1 a common progenitor1 still they possess several distinctly different characteristics4 ,this is owing1 no doubt1 to their being so long bred and undoubtedly perfected in a different country and by a different class of people4 ,these differences consist chiefly in a smaller and finer form than the ,spangled and ,blacks--a smaller head1 a smarter appearance1 and perhaps more activity1 their motions being very quick and graceful4 ,that they are great layers of a small but exquisitely white and finely-flavored egg is proverbial1 and on their first introduction into ,england this quality procured for them the title of 8,dutch everlasting layers40 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,creoles4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,the ,silver-,penciled ,hamburg is a very beautiful bird1 and is greatly admired by every one who can see any beauty at all in a finely-marked and gracefully formed fowl4 ,indeed1 we believe that they have the most finished appearance of any fowl1 their markings being so fine and regular that there seems nothing more to be desired to entitle them to the palm for beauty4 ,this variety1 besides the name which we have given1 were also called 8,chittiprats10 and still later1 8,bolton ,grays10 under which name they were widely disseminated1 and even yet we believe that in some sections they still retain this appellation1 although all other names are very rapidly giving way to that of ,silver-,penciled ,hamburgs4 8,creole0 was a name also applied to a variety of ,silver-,penciled ,hamburgs1 the markings of the feathers of which were very similar to those of the standard ,silver-,penciled ,hamburgs 7see cut74 ,the 8,bolton ,grays0 were simply ,silver-,penciled ,hamburgs 8run to seed10 the pencilings being mossy or smutty4 ,they are a numerous and attractive class at our poultry exhibitions1 and are gaining ground yearly in popular favor2 we have even known instances where breeders of ,silver-,spangled ,hamburgs have discarded them in favor of the ,penciled varieties1 although we think that the former1 in their way1 are fully as beautiful and desirable4 ,silver-,penciled ,hamburgs1 as chicks1 are quite tender1 but when fully feathered they are as little liable to disease as any fowl we know of4 ,they are great foragers1 and will almost keep themselves1 with good range1 being happy and contented anywhere and shelling out quantities of eggs under most adverse circumstances4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,bolton ,,grays4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,plumage4--,in the male bird the plumage of the head1 hackle1 back1 saddle1 breast and thighs1 should be a clear1 silvery-white4 ,the yellowish tinge so often seen upon these feathers is a very grave fault1 and one that will not be tolerated by a good judge4 ,there is often a tendency to penciled or smutty markings on the under-color of the back--that is1 it can only be seen by raising the top feathers4 ,this is also a serious defect1 and should be avoided4 ,the tail proper is black1 the sickles and tail-coverts being a rich green-black1 with a fine and distinct edging of white4 ,this is the most difficult point to obtain in the plumage of the entire bird in any degree of perfection--indeed1 a perfectly-marked tail is seldom seen in a cock4 ,some birds have marbled tails2 others have the sickles splashed with white1 which is equally objectionable1 as the only white which should be in the tail is the clear edging4 ,the wing appears almost white when closed2 but the inner webs of the wing-coverts should be darkly penciled4 ,a fine black edging should be observed on the wing-coverts1 caused by the ends of the outer webs being also slightly tipped with black1 which gives the appearance of a slight and indistinct bar on the wing4 ,this point should be distinctly observable1 but not too coarse or heavy4 ,the color of the secondary quills is also important4 ,they should be white on the outer web1 except a narrow strip of black next the quill1 only seen when the wing is opened out1 the wing appearing white when closed4 ,the inner web is black1 except a narrow white or gray edging4 ,the fluff should be slightly penciled or gray4 ,in the hen the neck-hackle should be pure white1 entirely free from any marking whatever4 ,the remainder of the plumage should be a clear1 silvery-white1 each feather distinctly penciled or marked across with bars of black1 as clear and distinct as possible and in particular as straight across the feather as possible4 ,the finer this penciling and the more numerous the bars1 the better4 ,this penciling should extend from the throat to the very tip of the tail4 ,a well-penciled tail is very desirable1 and quite difficult to obtain1 as there is a special tendency in the long feathers to lose the straightness across of the markings4 ,tails penciled squarely across to the very tip can be and are bred1 but they are never common4 ,one of the greatest faults to which the plumage is liable is the irregular and 8horse-shoe0 style of markings which we so often see in the breast1 and1 in fact1 nearly every part of the hen's plumage4 ,this is a most serious defect1 and not less to be noticed because of its frequency4 ,a very usual fault is a light breast1 or not only light1 but covered only with these horse-shoe markings4 ,the birds best marked on the breast are frequently liable to be spotted on the hackle1 and this latter fault is certainly much to be preferred to a bad breast4 ,however1 the best marking on the breast is never quite equal to that on other parts of the body4 ,a very desirable point is to have the rows of penciling on one feather fall onto the rows on the next1 giving the bird a ruled or lined appearance4 ,a coarsely penciled bird is not to be thought of in these days--although such birds were formerly the rule--as they have a spotty or speckled appearance1 which is not the correct thing at all4 ,a finely-penciled wing in hens is almost impossible to find1 many of our best show birds being very bad in this respect1 the markings being very light and indistinct4 ,the penciling is much better the first year--or in pullets2 with age it becomes cloudy1 mossy1 or indistinct1 so that a well-penciled hen is quite rare4 ,when they do moult out well the second or third season1 they are especially valuable1 and should be retained for breeding as long as they will breed4 ,all tendency to brownish or chestnut colored feathers 7which sometimes make their appearance1 although rarely17 should be carefully guarded against1 and when they do appear the bird should at once be discarded for breeding purposes4 ,we have enumerated the faults to which this breed is liable so minutely1 not because they are greater than those of many other varieties1 but because they require the most skillful breeding to eradicate4 ,as they are among the most beautiful fowls we have1 so are they among the most difficult to breed to perfection1 and they offer a fine field to intelligent breeders1 who like to feel that they owe the perfection of their birds to their own efforts4 ,those men who want their birds made for them1 so that they will breed easily themselves1 had better let them alone1 for they should only belong to the intelligent and hard-working fancier1 who will find them very pliable1 and who can reap the reward of his industry and perseverance in beholding in time a fowl that in beauty and utility shall stand unrivaled throughout the world4 ,other ,points4--,the comb in ,silver-,penciled ,hamburgs is the same as that described in ,black ,hamburgs1 and averages as perfect as in any other variety4 ,it is usually rather smaller1 with more 8work0 or fine points on the top than the comb of the ,spangled varieties4 ,the ear-lobe should be pure white1 and is usually very good in this respect1 it seeming to be one of their firmly-fixed characteristics4 ,the face has the same tendency to white as in the other varieties1 and this should be avoided with like caution4 ,in symmetry they are1 perhaps1 superior to the ,spangled varieties1 and are equaled only by the ,blacks in this respect1 birds poor in symmetry being pleasingly scarce4 ,they are not quite so full in the breast as the other varieties we have described1 but have an exceedingly graceful carriage1 and are upright and sprightly in appearance4 ,their legs are small1 slender1 and neat in appearance1 and in color1 leaden-blue1 which should be very dark--approaching black--in young birds4 ,points in ,breeding ,silver-,penciled ,hamburgs4--,one good point in regard to this variety is that the same birds will breed fine birds of both sexes1 if the stock is chosen with judgment4 ,some breeders use two sets1 but we do not consider that they are required1 and much prefer to breed from one yard4 ,of course1 as we have said before1 there will be1 as in all varieties1 some strains or families that produce better birds of one sex than the other2 still1 in this case there should be no great disparity in the quality of the male and female birds4 ,however1 as it is possible to breed very good show cockerels from hens with no quality of penciling at all1 it is very necessary1 in making up a yard for breeding1 that the strain of the cock bird should be known to be a well-penciled one4 ,the hens will speak for themselves4 ,it is very satisfactory to remark that our most popular judges favor those cock birds that possess the points most likely to produce good pullets2 and if such a bird comes of a strain known to produce good pullets1 of a penciling similar in character to those of the hens he is to be put with1 it is sufficient4 ,his tail should be black throughout1 the sickles black except the clear white edging2 the wing-bars should be perceptible1 but slight1 though the wing-coverts which form it must be darkly penciled on their upper webs4 ,if there be too little color here the pullets will lack color also2 if the bar be too dark1 the penciling will most likely be coarse1 heavy and spotty4 ,as such birds as we have described above are by no means common1 and may not be readily procured by the average breeder1 we shall also give matings for breeding from two yards1 which will be necessary if this is the case2 although1 be it distinctly understood1 the above mating is our choice1 and really the only proper one4 ,for ,cockerels4--,mate the best show cockerel you can find with hens much too light in the penciling to be fit for showing--tolerably marked1 but markings not heavy enough--and if they are irregular1 it is no great matter4 ,for ,pullets4--,mate a very dark cock with the very best hens or pullets you can procure4 ,it will make little difference if the cock's sickles are entirely black1 and his body spotted in places2 if he is only dark1 he will throw a fair lot of pullets if the hens be good4 ,the disadvantage of breeding from these two pens is obvious1 as neither strain thus produced can be relied upon to breed in any other way1 and many of the pullets hatched1 even if they do not show the approach to black spangling already referred to1 are apt to have the broad and coarse markings which we are trying to breed out as rapidly as possible4 ,a cock from the first mating described1 if well marked1 will throw very fine pullets1 while he will reproduce his own likeness in the cockerels4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,golden-,,penciled ,,hamburgs4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,golden-,,penciled ,,hamburgs4 ,in point of markings1 the ,golden are fully as beautiful as the ,silver-,penciled ,hamburgs1 while the golden ground-color1 which is their distinguishing feature1 while not so popular with the majority of breeders as the silver1 may yet be preferred by some4 ,in point of productiveness they equal the ,silvers1 laying a small1 white and finely-flavored egg4 ,the young chicks of both varieties of ,penciled ,hamburgs are rather delicate2 they should not be hatched before ,april4 ,another reason in favor of late hatching is that if hatched too early they moult out like old hens at the time they should be laying1 and so lose that sharp and rich penciling that is so desirable in pullets4 ,plumage4--,one of the most important points in the plumage of this variety is the evenness of the ground-color1 which should be a rich golden-color throughout4 ,some birds1 otherwise good1 are very faulty in this respect1 the ends of the feathers being a lighter gold than the other parts4 ,these birds1 as the season advances1 are apt to get still more faded and washed-out in appearance2 and1 indeed1 most birds fade in color from the effects of the sun4 ,some hens of a good rich color retain this much better than others1 which is a great point in their favor4 ,in cocks the same fault is common1 appearing in the shape of a lighter shade on the ends or tips of the feathers1 on the breast and underneath the body2 avoid this as far as possible--the more uniform the color1 the better4 ,the penciling should be exactly the same as in the preceding variety1 as distinct1 and yet as fine as possible1 and the more bars across the feather the better--always providing they are straight across1 and clearly defined4 ,the neck-hackle1 as in the ,silvers1 should be clear4 ,the cock is of a darker tint1 being almost chestnut in color2 he must not1 however1 be too red or too pale1 but very rich in color4 ,the proper tail-feathers are black1 the sickles and tail-coverts1 or 8hangers10 a rich black1 edged with brown or bronze1 very narrow1 and clearly defined4 ,the ,american ,standard of ,excellence gives the required width of this edging as about one-sixteenth of an inch4 ,clear black sickles are a great fault1 and so is a tail bronzed all over1 or with scarcely any black in it1 being bronzed all over the sickles4 ,this last kind of a tail is very showy1 and used to be a favorite with judges who did not understand ,hamburgs1 but birds possessing this defect have been proved to produce very poorly penciled pullets4 ,other ,points4--,the comb1 ear-lobe1 legs and symmetry in the ,golden-,penciled ,hamburgs should be exactly the same as those described in the ,silver-,penciled4 ,in symmetry1 especially1 they are fully their equal4 ,the points in breeding are exactly similar to those explained in connection with the preceding variety1 and need not be repeated1 the best rule being to breed from the very best birds you can find on both sides1 care being taken to obtain a rich1 even ground-color in all cases4 ,,white ,,hamburgs4 ,while we undoubtedly owe the ,white ,hamburg to skillful ,english breeding1 it is a variety bred much more generally in ,america than it is across the water1 where it is regarded as a mere sub-variety of ,hamburgs4 ,the variety was originally bred in ,england as an experiment1 and was obtained by selecting the lightest ,silver-,spangled ,hamburgs1 both male and female1 and mating them together1 each year selecting the lightest progeny1 until the pure white bird was procured4 ,thus it will be seen that in spite of all arguments to the contrary1 the ,white ,hamburg is really a pure ,hamburg in every particular4 ,while they were a very pretty variety1 they were looked upon with considerable disfavor by the ,english1 who discouraged their breeding1 and regarded them as an innovation in the ,hamburg family4 ,it is many years now since they began to be bred in ,america1 and they are much thought of for their many good characteristics1 while they figure quite prominently at our principal exhibitions4 ,what has served principally to discourage ,white ,hamburg breeders1 is the fact that so many imitations have been made and thrust upon the public under that name1 that were really mere mongrels4 ,the only true ,white ,hamburgs are those which come from ,silver-,spangled or ,silver-,penciled ,hamburgs1 in the manner we have described4 ,those with ,white ,leghorn or ,white ,dorking crosses are impositions1 and should be avoided by the fancier1 who will readily know them by their clumsy symmetry1 large size and coarse combs4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,white ,,hamburgs4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,characteristics of the ,variety4--,the ,white ,hamburgs should be pure white in plumage throughout1 with no signs of that undesirable yellowish tinge so often seen on otherwise good birds4 ,they should be true ,hamburg in symmetry1 avoiding the ,leghorn or ,dorking build1 and they should be 7and are7 no larger than the other varieties4 ,size is not a point to be regarded in ,hamburgs2 it is their laying qualities we look to1 and this variety1 while not quite up to the others in this respect1 is very productive4 ,the comb in ,white ,hamburgs should resemble that described under the heading of ,black ,hamburgs4 ,they should have a small1 round1 white ear-lobe1 by no means pendent1 and bright red face2 carriage upright1 sprightly and graceful4 ,the ,leg ,controversy4--,we have so far said nothing concerning the color of legs in ,white ,hamburgs1 for the reason that there has been a spirited controversy for many years among breeders as to whether they should be blue or white4 ,it has been a great nuisance to the ,american ,poultry ,association1 who have found themselves persuaded1 because of specious arguments on both sides1 to change their ,standard at least four times on legs of ,white ,hamburgs4 ,it was originally decided by the ,standard committee that a white leg was proper4 ,it was afterward changed from white to blue1 from blue back to white1 then again to blue1 and in #ahgi to white4 ,hon4 ,lewis ,f4 ,allen1 who is perhaps our largest and most prominent breeder of the ,white ,hamburg1 and who has done as much as any other man to push the breed1 says in a clever letter1 which1 however1 betrays his chagrin at the vacillating decrees of the ,standard committee3 8,i have been so disgusted with the doings of the ,standard committee on the points of fowls that ,i have determined never again to take any part in its discussions1 or show a bird in its exhibitions1 although ,i still keep and breed the ,white ,hamburg with white legs and beak1 which marks truly belong to them1 as they did when ,i first knew them1 in #ahgj4 8,i obtained my original birds from a gentleman who bought them in ,new ,york--descendants from imported stock1 ,i was informed4 ,they were then1 and still are1 true ,hamburgs in style and form1 non-sitters1 and nearly constant layers2 hardy in temperament1 and1 in short1 very satisfactory birds4 ,they were successfully shown in several of our poultry shows in ,buffalo1 and won prizes1 the white legs and beaks being entirely satisfactory to judges and the society4 8,but when the ,american ,poultry ,association undertook to make a ,standard of points for the various varieties of fowls1 some of the pretended #8professionals' introduced various innovations1 and among them accorded the blue leg and beak to the ,white ,hamburg1 which was adopted4 ,consequently1 at the next show at ,buffalo1 my birds were ruled out under the new blue-leg regulation4 ,the ,standard committee had a full meeting during the show1 and ,i went before them and showed the absurdity of the new rule1 and the committee decided to reverse the late action and return the points of white legs to the ,white ,hamburgs4 ,it has since1 however1 been changed several times40 ,mr4 ,allen seems to have no doubt but that the white leg is entirely proper1 and he shows himself to feel injured by the constant changes made in the ,standard2 and indeed it has greatly injured the variety1 simply because breeders never could tell how to breed their birds so that they would not be disqualified at the next season's shows4 ,that the point between the two colors is a fine one is proved by the indecision of the ,standard committee4 ,through all the changes the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,bolton has stood as firmly by the blue legs as ,mr4 ,allen has by the white ones1 and his faith in their propriety has never wavered4 ,mr4 ,bolton is one of our most prominent ,hamburg men1 and has proved his skill as a breeder in showing some excellent stock of the several varieties4 ,he writes us3 8,i know perfectly well that my ,white ,hamburgs are pure ,hamburgs in every respect4 ,i have bred them myself from the ,silver-,penciled ,hamburgs1 with blue legs1 and all the characteristics of their predecessors4 ,for ten years ,i have never had a chick with legs of any other color than blue1 which shows that the blue leg is a firmly fixed characteristic1 and properly belongs there40 ,why should other varieties of ,hamburgs have a blue leg and the ,white ,hamburg a white leg8 ,the blue leg is a distinct ,hamburg characteristic4 ,we believe that when our final and unalterable ,standard is made1 the ,white ,hamburgs will be credited with blue legs4 ,points in ,breeding4--,the rule in mating ,white ,hamburgs should be simply to procure the birds which possess the finest combs1 ear-lobes and face1 pure white plumage and blue legs4 ,guard against heavy1 blocky forms and coarse combs1 and pay less attention to size than to proper symmetry4 ,,care ,,of ,,young ,,chicks4 ,as so few breeders seem to have any clearly-defined ideas as to the proper mode of caring for newly-hatched or growing chicks1 and beginners are not only wholly at sea in this respect1 but have no place to which they may turn and acquire the information that they have not yet been able to gain through experience 7which is by odds the best teacher1 as we are seldom able to profit by the experience of others71 we have thought best to prepare a few distinct and common-sense instructions1 which we have endeavored to render as full and explicit as possible1 without being so tedious or complicated as to mislead in any way the novice4 ,to start with1 there is one essential point in raising these delicate little creatures--care4 ,give them plenty of care1 and they will thrive--proper care1 we mean4 ,there are three primary things to be guarded against in caring for very young chickens3 #a4 ,chilling4 #b4 ,vermin4 #c4 ,indigestible food4 ,for the first week1 perhaps1 nearly every old hen is faithful to her little brood1 and guards them with that maternal tenderness for which she has been made the symbol of motherly love4 ,but this care soon wearies her1 and in a few days she begins to neglect them1 marching around in the chill and drenching rains of spring1 and dragging her little brood after her through the damp grass1 entirely oblivious of their sufferings2 and one by one they drop off and are left behind1 chilled through1 or seized with cramp4 ,only the most persevering are able to keep up1 until1 perhaps seized with a pang of remorse1 she spreads her wings and allows the little ones to find a temporary shelter beneath her warm feathers4 ,even the strongest often succumb to rheumatism and die after this dangerous exposure4 ,this picture is not overdrawn2 it is of common occurrence4 ,a proper coop1 therefore1 for the hen and chicks1 as soon as they are able to leave the nest is1 and always will be1 regarded as a necessity4 ,vermin is the second evil to be guarded against4 ,examine the chicks carefully when first hatched1 and should you find any lice on either them or the hen1 let your first move be to rid them of these pests1 which will else surely prove fatal to the young birds4 ,procure some ,dalmatian or ,persian ,insect ,powder1 and dust them thoroughly with it until their tormentors are exterminated4 ,and here let us recommend cleanliness in everything4 ,the tender chicks cannot live in filth1 which breeds disease more rapidly than anything else4 ,keep your coops clean1 your houses clean1 and your runs clean4 ,it is a very important element of success--indispensable1 in fact4 ,on the food depends in a great measure the growth and health of the chicks4 ,indigestible food avoid by all means4 ,by indigestible we mean sloppy and dirty food1 and that which is sour4 ,the best feed at first is pure1 sweet bread and milk1 and hard-boiled eggs and bread crumbs mixed together and crumbled with the fingers4 ,let them always have access to plenty of pure water4 ,any form of grain is good for them as soon as they will eat it1 and after they are a few days old they will thrive on cracked corn and oatmeal4 ,as they get older whole wheat is an excellent growing food4 ,green stuff they should have constantly after they are a week old1 and if it is too early in the season to give them grass1 feed a little lettuce1 clipped fine with scissors1 at least once a day4 ,at ten days of age they are ready to thrive on whole wheat as they will on nothing else4 ,give them plenty of bone now1 and never let your efforts flag to keep them growing4 ,when the chicks are fully feathered the many dangers which constantly beset the lives of the youngsters are usually safely passed1 and1 barring all accidents1 it is pretty safe to suppose that they will now pull through4 ,nine out of every ten breeders then breathe a sigh of relief1 and settle down to a quiet summer1 or leave home4 ,the tenth breeder is sharper4 ,he not only stays at home1 but he redoubles his attentions to his young flock4 ,he realizes that now is the time when these future prize winners demand all the care which he can bestow to keep them growing finely4 ,and he is right4 ,it won't do to slack up now4 ,they need a different kind of care4 ,from endeavoring to keep the breath of life in the little things1 he changes his attention to a system of judicious feeding1 calculated to keep them growing rapidly during the propitious summer weather4 ,alas1 for the chick whom the cold weather catches half-developed and half-feathered6 ,august1 ,september and ,october are the finest growing months in the year1 and those chicks which now have a good start1 if properly cared for and judiciously forced1 will be the ones to make a fine showing at the next winter's exhibitions4 ,in growing they need plenty of bone meal and oyster shells1 and an occasional supply of fresh meat1 if worms are not plentiful4 ,do not force them too much1 as in ,hamburgs it induces the comb to lop and grow to an undesirable size4 ,again let us recommend plenty of pure1 cool water1 and vegetable food in quantity4 ,little attentions are never thrown away1 but will be amply repaid in time in a vigorous1 large and healthy flock of fowls4 ,,preparing ,,hamburgs ,,for ,,exhibition4 ,condition means everything in showing ,hamburgs1 and without it many a fine bird comes home from a show minus a prize that could easily have been won had its owner known how to properly fit it for exhibition4 ,by 8fitting it0 we do not refer to the unscrupulous tricks resorted to by unprincipled scoundrels who mutilate and torture their birds to bring them within the requirements of the ,standard1 but to the legitimate preparation to which it is not only allowable to subject a bird1 but without which it is really a pity to send a good bird to the show room4 ,we are not going to recommend any practices which may not be fully known and approved of by any judge1 so that any exhibitor may have no hesitation in following our instructions4 ,for at least three weeks before the exhibition all varieties of ,hamburgs should be confined in a darkened coop--not too dark1 but with just light enough to enable them to see to eat4 ,we recommend this for the following reasons3 #a4 ,it serves to whiten in an astonishing degree the ear-lobe4 ,we have often seen a bird which1 when placed in the darkened coop1 had ear-lobes discolored by exposure to the weather1 come out at the end of three weeks with pure milky-white ear-lobes throughout4 ,during this confinement the ear-lobes should be washed each day with sweet milk1 applied with a sponge4 #b4 ,this confinement is of great value in promoting a rich luster to the plumage1 making each color stand out distinctly1 and giving the feathers that glossy appearance so much desired4 ,this matter of plumage is one of primary importance4 ,in ,black ,hamburgs the greenish gloss should be brought out as much as possible1 and in order to do this confinement in darkened quarters is necessary4 ,after they 7the ,blacks we are now referring to7 have been confined until about a week previous to the show1 they should be taken from the coop1 and their feathers rubbed down daily with a piece of flannel cloth4 ,hold the bird firmly on your lap1 and pass the cloth lightly down the back from the neck to the tip of the tail1 and keep up this rubbing steadily for the required time1 say fifteen minutes4 ,you will be surprised to see the magnificent gloss brought out upon birds that before were even slightly dull in appearance of plumage4 ,if your birds have the undesirable purple tinge1 this will bring it out more than you would wish1 but if they have the greenish sheen1 it will make them glisten in a manner to delight your eyes4 ,the ,whites are much improved likewise by this confinement1 as it gives the plumage a clear milky-white color1 and it loses under this treatment the yellowish cast they have acquired by exposure to the weather2 only1 if they are bad in this respect1 they should be put in their darkened quarters at least a month previous to the exhibition4 ,with ,golden-,penciled and ,spangled ,hamburgs this darkened coop is of much assistance in bringing out the greenish spangles and brightening and enriching the ground-color2 and with these varieties1 as with the ,blacks1 we would recommend the gentle rubbing with coarse flannel4 ,silver-,spangled and ,penciled birds gain by their darkened quarters a clear and distinct appearance in their markings1 as it makes the ground-color a beautiful white1 furnishing a desirable background for the colored feathers4 ,there is no help for a bad comb or a white face4 ,the best way is never to allow a bird with these defects to see the inside of a show room4 ,birds with a tendency to scaly legs should have them rubbed with ,stoddard's ,poultry ,ointment1 beginning at least two weeks before the show4 ,if breeders would only attend to this repulsive appearance of the legs in time1 or whenever it makes its appearance1 and treat it as above1 these remarks would be unnecessary4 ,it is an eye-sore in any bird1 but particularly disgusting on the neat1 slender legs of the ,hamburgs4 ,in fitting birds for show they should have a wholesome variety of food1 wheat and buckwheat being the staples4 ,a little sunflower seed1 fed at judicious intervals for the six weeks previous to the show1 has a very desirable effect in giving them the gloss and finish so desirable1 and which is always observed in prize birds4 ,when the time arrives to coop the birds and start them off for the show1 great care should be taken that they are in proper trim4 ,as each bird is cooped it should be carefully examined to see that there are no symptoms of disease1 or any foul feathers in the plumage4 ,then take a sponge and carefully wash the comb1 wattles1 face and legs with a mixture of equal parts of sweet oil and alcohol1 applying as little as is possible to procure the desired effect--which is1 by the way1 a remarkable brightening of the comb1 wattles and face1 giving them a rich1 healthy and bright appearance1 and imparting to the legs a beautiful gloss1 which brings out their color with good effect4 ,if these instructions are carefully followed1 you will hardly recognize in the smart1 clean-looking bird that graces the exhibition coop1 the soiled and dull appearing fowl you began fitting three weeks before4 ,it may require a certain amount of time to attend to these details properly1 but will you not feel amply repaid by beholding the prize card on your coop1 and having your brother fanciers comment upon the fine condition of your birds8 ,,hints ,,to ,,judges4 ,very few of the leading and popular judges at our exhibitions are ,hamburg breeders1 and realizing this1 it should not be difficult to imagine the chagrin and disappointment of an experienced breeder of these varieties when he stands by at a show and sees the judge award the premiums to birds with many and glaring faults1 to his eyes1 but which are never noticed by this oracle of the show room1 who makes his figures with a business-like alacrity1 strongly savoring of ignorance to the close observer1 and appears thoroughly satisfied that he is 8up to snuff10 when in reality he has been absurdly unjust in his awards4 ,there is no breed which needs so careful examination from the judge as the ,hamburg1 in each variety1 not only on account of the many points to be considered1 but because there is no breed so subject to the manipulations of unprincipled exhibitors1 or where there is more lynx-eyed vigilance required from the judge to guard him against the impositions of those pests of the show room--trimmers4 ,the points to which a judge should devote his attention in judging ,hamburgs may be divided into four divisions1 namely3 #a1 head2 #b1 plumage2 #c1 symmetry2 #d1 condition4 ,beginning with the first of these1 we find included under this topic--comb1 wattles1 ear-lobes and face4 ,there is no point in which ,hamburgs are subject to such extensive manipulation as in the comb1 and some of the practices which have been detected are of the most cruel nature4 ,cases where needles and pins have been inserted lengthwise of the comb to keep it from lapping while the judge is making his rounds1 have been of common occurrence1 although we are pleased to note that as more good and small-sized combs are being bred yearly1 this practice seems to be falling into disuse4 ,these instruments of torture are usually inserted just before the judges examine the birds1 and withdrawn by means of pinchers immediately after the awards have been made1 so that they are really difficult to discover4 ,where these needles are left in the comb1 the most intense suffering ensues1 and ,mr4 ,hewitt has drawn a most harrowing picture of the tortures the poor bird is obliged to undergo4 ,he says3 8,on the second day1 the comb becomes most intolerably inflamed1 and ,i have seen a fowl in its agony bend the head down1 raise its foot1 as with the intention of relieving the comb by scratching it1 stop the movement midway without touching the comb at all1 and then tremble like an aspen-leaf40 ,when cases of such barbarity are detected1 the exhibitor should be remorselessly drummed out of the exhibition and the fraternity4 ,a very common fault in combs is a hollow or depression in the center2 and this is usually treated by cutting a wedge-shaped piece out of the middle1 and stitching the outside portions tightly till joined and healed4 ,stitches put in for one purpose or other are often found1 and1 we regret to add1 are employed far oftener than found4 ,small irregularities in shape and points are simply shaved off4 ,such mutilations are quickly discerned by a practiced eye in the smooth appearance of the comb when it has been cut1 but as frequently this appearance is due to a past accident1 judges should not act hastily upon suspicion4 ,particular attention should be paid to the 8work0 or fine points of the comb2 the more numerous they are1 the better4 ,hollows in the front of the comb1 above the beak1 are common and objectionable1 and should be severely cut4 ,pullets should have small and well-shaped combs4 ,we recommend cutting large combs in pullets1 as they are almost certain to fall over with age4 ,the face is also subject to painting red when it has a tendency to white1 and this is often discovered by the difference in the shade of the comb and face1 although sometimes the similarity of color is so perfect as to defy detection4 ,when we suspect painting1 a gentle rubbing usually suffices to prove if our suspicions are correct4 ,this white in the face is a direct disqualification in ,black ,hamburgs according to the ,american ,standard1 but as we seldom find a two or three year old cock without it1 we think the ,standard should not thus disqualify old birds1 but 8cut severely as a defect40 ,cockerels with this white face should be thrown out without remorse4 ,ear-lobes are often painted white1 and sometimes quite cleverly1 but this is usually so bungling an operation as to be readily detected1 if you examine it carefully4 ,ear-lobes should be round and small4 ,cut large1 irregularly-shaped1 and above all1 pendent ear-lobes4 ,the bluish tinge often seen on ,hamburg ear-lobes should not be cut except in cases of comparison4 ,we do not like it1 but it is often occasioned by confinement1 and is not a direct blemish4 ,wattles should be small and well rounded4 ,we recommend cutting a pendent wattle1 such as is proper to the ,leghorn varieties4 ,our second division treats of plumage1 and here again the trimmer finds a broad field of labor4 ,white feathers in ,blacks are pulled out1 but as these usually appear in the wings1 if at all1 the absence of flight feathers should be accepted as proof of the previous existence of white feathers4 ,if there is any tendency at all to white in this variety1 it will usually be found by holding the bird by the legs head downward1 when the fluff feathers under the tail and between the legs will be found to possess small white tips4 ,we found the first prize birds at a recent show distinctly tipped with white here1 but the judge had never noticed it4 ,in the case of the spangled varieties1 large quantities of feathers are often extracted from the breast and back1 when they are so numerous that the black spangles run together4 ,this trimming out process1 which is1 of course1 done to show the color between the spangles1 is very difficult of detection1 and almost impossible to positively prove4 ,in the penciled varieties the attention of the trimmer is turned to the tail of the cocks4 ,a finely-penciled tail is a rarity1 and when a fine set of well-marked sickles are obtained they are sometimes preserved 8for future reference0 7as it were71 and often figure in several different birds before they are worn out4 ,as these well-marked sickles often grow on a bird with a poor comb1 the owner usually selects his best marked bird otherwise1 extracts the poor sickles1 and inserts the good ones in their place4 ,the fastening may get loose during the show1 and then drop out1 exposing the fraud at once4 ,these false sickles1 however1 are usually dull in color1 lacking the gloss of healthy feathers1 and can be usually detected by a judge who has his wits about him and is on the alert4 ,still1 they are sometimes so cleverly doctored as to defy discovery1 unless subjected to such harsh treatment as few judges feel justified in using upon mere suspicion4 ,a dark1 glossy1 sharply-edged tail on a cock with very slight wing-bars should always excite suspicion4 ,another frequent practice is dyeing feathers4 ,this is often detected by the absence of the glossy appearance seen on the remainder of the plumage4 ,frequently1 however1 off-colored feathers will be plucked out1 skillfully colored and glossed1 and successfully reinstated in their places1 with little chance of their being discovered4 ,in spangled and penciled birds1 imperfect markings or blotches are often bleached out with acids1 and proper markings given the feathers with grease-paints1 which assimilate with the oily substance in the feather1 and render detection almost impossible4 ,these various frauds make the task of a conscientious ,hamburg judge one of unusual anxiety and responsibility4 ,we may be blamed for mentioning these vile practices1 but we believe that any evil that may arise from our furnishing hints to the unscrupulous will be more than counterbalanced by putting judges on their guard who are much too apt to pass over these points rapidly and carelessly4 ,the third division treats of symmetry1 and right here let us say that there is no point in judging ,hamburgs so much neglected as this most important one4 ,we were dismayed to hear a judge1 who was examining birds recently1 say3 8,you are pretty safe to cut a ,hamburg one point for symmetry40 ,what did he mean8 ,simply1 we suppose1 that he knew so little about this quality that he resolved to cover his ignorance by refusing to admit any bird to be perfect in this respect4 ,there are too many judges1 alas1 who agree with him1 because they know not what symmetry means4 ,we have described the symmetry of ,hamburgs under the heading of the ,black variety1 and so need not repeat it4 ,only let us again warn judges to discriminate between the undesirable ,game shape1 and the equally improper ,dorking mould in judging these birds4 ,the ,hamburg symmetry is peculiar to the breed1 and cannot be mistaken1 and as fully one-half the birds exhibited incline either to the ,game or ,dorking symmetry1 the distinct difference in shape should be understood by every judge1 and severely cut if not correct4 ,our last division refers to condition1 and this1 also1 is of much importance in judging ,hamburgs4 ,it counts from five to ten points in making up a perfect bird1 and we believe there is not one case out of ten where dark or dusty plumage1 discolored comb or soiled legs are cut by the judge4 ,unless the bird has decided symptoms of roup1 or other disease1 it is simply passed over4 ,a good judge invariably makes the point of condition a primary one4 ,it means a fresh1 well-kept condition of the comb and head1 a fine1 glossy plumage1 upright and active appearance1 and clean1 shining legs4 ,there is an indescribable difference between a healthy1 active1 well-bred bird and one that1 although it may be descended from pure stock1 having correct markings and the like1 yet lacks vivacity1 spirit and a general air of aristocracy4 ,if there be one breed of fowls above others more worthy of being called the 8upper-crust of poultry-dom10 we are inclined to the opinion the breed under our consideration is that one4 ,now1 every man is not fitted to become a good judge of poultry1 even if he go through the regular process1 any more than every one can become an exact musician by undergoing the necessary course of training4 ,there is an inborn something that distinguishes one person from another and certain it is that ideas of form1 grace and coloring1 above the ordinary1 are to be found in the composition of our best judges4 ,the question is often asked by officers of agricultural and horticultural fairs1 as well as by those of poultry exhibitions1 if it is not possible to have awards made without producing the hard feelings and unsatisfactory results generally following4 ,and we answer1 8,no60--as long as no more pains are taken in the selection of judges on the score of their particular fitness for the position they are called upon to fill4 ,on their efficiency turn the questions of success1 harmony1 and the keeping and securing of the public confidence and patronage4 ,we hope we have not been too severe upon judges in this chapter4 ,a really good judge will see the force of our arguments1 and in the case of the indifferent ones1 we trust verbum sapientibus omnes est4