heated by fireplace stove from the first floor. Not many fanciers in England afford such space to their pets. The fountain in the centre gives an air of elegance to the room. What a charming place to retire to on a cold or rainy day, or when the domestic chimney smokes, or the wife (the proverbial one) scolds! What a place to watch and note Pigeon ways and Pigeon beauty! In England I have many a time seen magnificent birds ill-housed, which, when the fancier can afford to do differently, is not well. I own I wish the broad Atlantic did not exist, and I could sit down in this pigeonry with the owner and enjoy with him his Pigeons. Truly some of those birds on the top of the pens seem, even in a dim photograph, worth examining. Then there

is a roof-room, the dimensions of which are 15 feet by 17 feet, and lighted and ventilated on either side.

On examining the three photographs, two of which are engraved, I must congratulate Mr. Gaddess on the splendid home he is able to provide for his pets. Mr. Gaddess is a dweller in a town; and how suited for a town man is the Pigeon fancy! No garden needed, no large yard as for poultry-simply a building, and all is prepared if that the building be suitable. I wish Mr. Gaddess much pleasure and success with his Pigeons.-WILTSHIRE RECTOR.

THE POULTRY-KEEPER.-No. 4.
CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE OF THE VARIETIES.

CLASSIFICATION.-As it is not possible to class fowls by following the probabilities of their origin, we have made a classification formed upon the size, or the usefulness, or the peculiarity of the plumage of each variety.

We have divided the known varieties into four great categories.
I.-The great European varieties.

II. The great exotic varieties.
III.-The new varieties called fancy.
IV.

The dwarf varieties.

We have only mentioned the well-known varieties, putting on one side those which are lost and those which are doubtful.

BEDLINGTON POULTRY SHOW.

THE tenth Exhibition was held at Bedlington on the 26th and 27th inst. The following is the prize list, and we shall give next week a report on the birds exhibited.

DORKINGS.-1, J. White, Warlaby, Northallerton. 2, C. Widdas, Houghtenle-Wear, Darlington. 3, J. Watts, King's Heath, Birmingham.

COCHINS.-Buff or Cinnamon.-Cup. 1, 2, and 3, G. H. Proctor, Durham. vhe, J. Staiker, West Sleekburn. Any other variety.-1, G. H. Proctor. 2, H. Beldon, Bingley. 8, J. Shorthose.

BRAHMA POOTRAS.-1 and 2, W. Swann, Bedlington. 8, H. Beldon. hc, J. Watts. c. Hon. P. Hamilton, Lennel, Coldstream; J. N. Lawson, Ryhope, Sunderland.

SPANISH-1, H. Beldon. 2, J. Younghusband, North Shields. 3, W. Sanderson, Whalton, Newcastle. hc, H. Wilkinson, Earby, Skipton; J. Willoughby,

Hexham.

POLISH.-Cup, 1, and 2, H. Beldon. 8, R. Parsons.

BARNDOOR FOWLS.-Cross-bred.-1, J. J. G. Robinson, North Frodingham, Driffield. 2, H. Beldon. 8, W. H. Young, Driffield. c, F. E. Schofield, Morpeth. GAME.-Cock.-1, Miss M. J. Nelson, Cockshaw, Hexham. 2, J. Merryweather. Dudley Colliery. 8, E. Ackroyd. Hen.-1, E. Ackroyd, Eccleshill, Leeds. 2, J. Stark, Bebside.

GAME.-Black breasted and other Reds. - Cup and 1, E. Ackroyd. 2, T. Middlemiss, Seaton Delaval. 8, T. Dodd, Seaton Burn Colliery, Dudley. vhc. Miss M. J. Nelson. he, C. Widdas; Miss M. J. Nelson; J. Ferry, Cowpen, Morpeth.

GAME.-Duckwings and other Greys.-1, J. W. Thornton, Bradford. 2, E. Ackroyd. 3. J. W. Brockbank, Carnforth. vhc, J. Gibson, Stanhope. ho, E. Winwood, Worcester; J. Rowell, Durham (Lintz Green).

GAME.-Any other variety.-1, J. Douglass, Cambois, Blyth. 2 and 3, T. Leightley, New Hartley. he and e, W. Drysdale, Longhirst Colliery, Morpeth. HAMBURGHS.-Golden-spangled -1 and 2, H. Beldon. 8, W. Harle, Ashington Colliery, Morpeth. c, T. Marshall, Morpeth. Silver-spangled.-1, Ashton and Booth, Broadbottom, Mottiam. 2 and 8, H. Beldon. hc, G. Turnbull, Ashington Colliery, Morpeth.

HAMBURGHS.-Golden-pencilled.-1 and 8. H. Beldon. 2, J. Rhodes, Hyndburn, Accrington. c, J. Pattinson, Bebside Colliery, Morpeth; Miss G. B. Elliott, Newcastle. Silver-pencilled.-Cup, 1, and 3, H. Beldun. 2, J. Rhodes. c R. Parsons.

GUINEA FOWLS.-1 and 3, Miss Wilson, Morpeth. 2, Mrs. Robson, Stanning ton. vhc, W. H. Young, Driffield.

ANY OTHER VARIETY EXCEPT BANTAMS.-1. H. Beldon (Black Hamburgh). 2, R. Hawkins, Seaham (Malay). 8, T. P. Carver, Langthorpe, Borobridge. c, J. Scott, Benton Station (Houdans).

BANTAMS.-Cock.-Cup and 1, W. & G. Anderton, Accrington. 2, G. Hall, Kendal. 8, W. C. Dawson. Whitby. whe, W. Rogers. Sunderland. he, G. Hall: Miss M. J. Nelson; Wardle & Bruce, South Gosforth, Newcastle; W. Rogers; T. Dowell, Millfield, Sunderland. c, F. Steel, Stump Cross, Halifax: J. H. Cartwright, Willington; H. Shoulef, Deptford. Sunderland. Hen.-1, Miss M. J. Nelson. 2 and vhe, G. Hall, Kendal. 8. J. H. Cartwright. he, G. Bell, Morpeth; W. Gray, Tow Law; D. Hunter. Sunderland. c, T. P. Carver. GAME BANTAMS-Black-breasted and other Reds-1, Miss M. J. Nelson. 2

and 3, F. Steel, Halifax. vhe, G. Hall. hc, G Hall; Miss M. J. Nelson; W. Gray; Wardle & Bruce, Newcastle. Any other variety.-1, G. Hall. 2, T. Dowell, Millfield, Sunderland. 8, Miss M. J. Nelson vhc, T. Rennison, Seaton Delaval Colliery. hc, F. Steel; Miss M. J. Nelson; W. Murray, Hexham. BANTAME-Any other variety except Game.-1, R. H. Ashton, Mottram, Manchester. 2, W. Canney, Bishop Auckland. 3, J. Watts.

DUCKS.-Aylesbury.-1, W. Stonehouse, Whitby. 2, T. P. Carver. 8, W Canney. Rouen.-1, Miss Wilson, Morpeth. 2 and 3, Miss M. J. Nelson. hc. W. Canney; R. G. Hoare, Newcastle. Any other variety.-1 and 2, J. Jobling, jun., Morpeth. 8, J. Swann, Bedlington.

TURKEYS.-Cock.-1, Miss Wil-on. 2, W. Canney. 3, Mrs. Robson. SELLING CLASSES.-Cock or Drake.-1, E. Ackroyd. 2, G. H. Proctor (Buff, Cochin). 8, W. Hetherington, West Sleekburn. he. G. A. Tate, South Shields (Brown Red Game); Miss M. J. Nelson; Mrs. Cross. Brigg (French); H. Beldon; E. Rutherford, Bedlington; W. Hall (Buff Cochin); J. Douglass

(Black Red Game); Miss Wilson (White Cochin).

SELLING CLASSES.-Hen or Duck-1, G. H. Proctor (Cochin). 2, T. Young. 8, T. Stansfield, Millfield, Sunderland (Aylesbury Duck). hc, E. Ackroyd; T. Stansfield (Rouen Duck).

COTTAGERS' CLASSES.

GAME.-Any variety.-Cock.-1. G. Taylor, Bedlington Colliery. 2, T. Young, Bebside. 3, J. Morton, Choppington Colliery. Hen.-1, E. Rutherford, Bedlington Colliery. 2, T. Young, 3, J Morton. hc, J. Yellowley, Barrington. HAMBURGRS--Any variety-Cock.-1. Miss Stalker, West Sleekburn. 2, D. Cheyne, Cowpen Lane. 3, J. Laws, West Sleekburn. Hen.-1, J. Wilson, Shankhouse, Cram ington. 2, Miss Stalker. 3, D. Cheyne. hc, J. Laws.

Nesham.

ANY VARIETY EXCEPT BANTAMS.-Cock-1, R. Hine, Bedlington. 2, T. Oliver, North Seaton Colliery, Morpeth 8, J. Webster, West Sleekburn, hc, J. Nesham, West Sleekburn. Hen.-1, J. Dodds, Netherton Colliery. 2, J. Webster. 3, J. BANTAMS.-Any variety.-Cock-1, W. Short, Bedlington. 2, J. Ferry, Cowpen, Blyth. 3, J. Nesham. vhc. A. Hay, Bedlington. hc, T. Reaveley, Bedlington Station; R. Fawcett. New Delaval, Blyth. c, H. Sharp. Hen.-1, T. Reaveley. 2, W. Short. 3, H. Sharp.

PIGEONS.

CARRIERS.-Cock or Hen.-1, E. Beckwith, Bonnersfield, Monkwearmouth. 2, W. Ridley, Hexham.

TUMBLERS.-Short faced.-Cock or Hen.-1 and 2, E. Beckwith. vhe, W. Brydone, Langton. Dunse, he, H. Simpson, Cramlington: H. Yardley. Birmingham. Any other variety.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Dye, Hexham. 2, T. W. Clemitson, Hexham. hc, J. Thompson, Newcastle; J. Dye; W. J. Donkin, Newcastle; J. Watts; R. H. Blacklock, Sunderland; W. Maule, Newcastle; H. Yardley.

POUTERS.-Cock or Hen.-1, H. Simpson. 2, J. Dye. hc, H. Simpson; R. H. Blacklock: W. Ridley. c. J. Dye; H. Simpson; R. H. Blacklock. DRAGOONS.-Cock or Hen.-i and he, F. Graham, South Birkenhead. 2, J. NUNS.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Young, Bishop Auckland. 2, A. A. Vander Meersch,

Watts.

Tooting, London.

OWLS.-Cock or Hen.-1, A. N. Dodds, North Shields. 2, J. Dye. hc, J. Dye; W. Brydone; J. Young. TURBITS.-Cock or Hen.--1, H Simpson. 2. J. Young. hc, W. Brydone; J. Watts; J. Young; A. A. Vander Meersch; A. Brown, Durham.

BARBS.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Watts. 2, H. Yardley. hc, E. Beckwith. JACOBINS-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Young 2, A. A. Vander Meersch. hc, W. Brydone; J. Young; A. A. Vander Meersch. FANTAILS.-Cock or Hen.-1, H. Simpson. 2, J. F. Loversidge, Newark. he,

E. Beckwith; H. Simpson.

ANY OTHER VARIETY.-Cock or Hen.-1, M. Ord. Durham. 2, H. Yardley. SELLING CLASS.-Pair.-1. J. Young. 2, H. Simpson. he, E. Beckwith; M. Ord; J. Murray, Ouseburn, Newcastle; A. A. Vander Meersch. CAGE BIRDS.

BELGIANS.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Robson, Bedlington Iron Works. 2, W. Scott, Newcastle.

NORWICH.-Cock or Hen.-1, A. Armstrong, Newcastle. 2, J. Sinclair, Bedlingion. 8, J. Robson.

CRESTED. Yellow or Yellow-marked.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Baxter, Newcastle. Buff or Buff-marked.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Baxter.

GLASGOW DONS.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Murray. 2, J. Davison, Newcastle.

LIZARDS.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Baxter. 2, T. Harrison, Newcastle. 3, J. Pringle, Newcastle. MULES.-Goldfinch.-Yellow-marked.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Robson. 2, R. Hawman, Middlesborough. Buff-marked.-Cock or Hen.-1, R. Hawman. 2, J. Baxter. Any other variety.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Stevens, Middlesborough. 1 and 3, J. Baxter.

Benton.

COMMON.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Stevens. 2, J. Baxter. 8, J. Allison, Long GOLDFINCH.-Cock or Hen-1, W. & C. Burniston, Middlesborough. 2, J. Scott, Benton Station. 3, J. Robson.

BROWN LINNET.-Cock or Hen-1, R. Hawman. 2, J. Stevens. 8, J. Baxter. SINGING BIRDS.-Any other variety.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Baxter. 2, W. and C. Burniston. 3, J. Allison.

ANY OTHER KIND EXCEPT SINGING BIRDS.-Cock or Hen.-1, E. McKenzie, Waterloo, Blyth. 2, J. Baxter. 3, T. Maughan, Bebside.

SELLING CLASS.-Cock or Hen.-1, J. Baxter, Newcastle. 2, T. Curley, West Sleekburn. 3. T. Allison, Long Benton, Newcastle.

JUDGES.-Poultry: Mr. E. Hutton, Pudsey, Leeds; and Mr. F. Esquilant, Brixton. Pigeons: Mr. F. Esquilant. Cage Birds: Mr. T. Lowery, Low Fell, Gateshead.

BAR-FRAME HIVES, AND THE AMERICAN SLINGER.

VERY much has lately been said and written in favour of this slinger or extractor. For aught I know, the statements we hear and see may be perfectly accurate. A clergyman from Winchester or the neighbourhood came here last August to spend a few hours in conversation about bees and their profitable management. He had then been using boxes, which he obtained from the grocers' at about 2d. each, for hives; and with his own hands (as I understood him) he had made bar-frames and fitted them into his boxes. He was then expecting to teach many bee-keepers how to possess good bar-frame hives at a cost of 4d.

or 6d. each.

He had made a slinger or extractor, and had tried it. It did not act satisfactorily, inasmuch as the young combs were cast out of the bars by the motion or centrifugal force of the machine. Has anyone been more successful with the slinger in this country? I have been looking out and listening for evidence of the practical utility of the extractor amongst English beekeepers. So far I have been unfortunate, for I have not heard of one instance of success. Last year was a very unfavourable one for honey-gathering, perhaps not affording an opportunity to those who have extractors of testing them. I have seen American evidence of the use and advantage of the slinger held forth by English traders to our view, but I attach but little value to the evidence of American success with the slinger. In America bees may collect less farina than they do in Britain, for here we have in almost every hive a superabundance of it. In summer the climate is hotter there than here. May I suggest that this extractor be fairly and extensively tested this year in England, and the results fully and accurately reported? If we kept bar-frame hives the contrivance would be speedily tested, and its operation exhibited to all the bee-keepers in the country who chose to come and see. I confess being at present rather sceptical as to its value to bee-keepers in this country, and regret that in the recommendations of its advocates and professed patrons there is nothing to break up and remove that scepticism.

The great recommendation of the slinger, according to its advocates is this, that it casts the honey out the bars, and these are replaced, thus saving the honey that is used in comb-building. When a thoughtful bee-keeper reads such statements, he is ready to ask how often this is done in a season. Before bees swarm almost every comb in their hive contains brood, and much of this brood, say one half, is unsealed. Does the slinger invariably cast the honey out and leave the brood undisturbed? or does some of the brood and farina go off at a tangent with the honey as the slinger is being whirled round. Such questions will rise up when we are told that the honey obtained by the extractor is inferior in quality to run honey, and is sold at a less price by so many cents. or half cents. per pound.

On using an extractor it is necessary to cut the lids off the cells of sealed honey. To us this appears to be a tedious and difficult operation, for very few combs are even or quite flat on their surface. Many other difficulties and objections to the use of the slinger arise. If no combs be built, old ones will become half full of farina, thus crippling the bees much for breeding and gathering honey. Hives filled with young healthy combs are incomparably better for bees and bee-keepers than old combs half filled with pollen, and no bee-keeper can prevent in this country the accumulation of a superabundance of this old combs from them, and having them refilled with young rubbishy pollen in his hives without frequently removing the combs. How this can be best and most economically done is another question. Meanwhile let us have satisfactory evidence of the value and success of the slinger, and I shall not fail to recommend its use to the bee-keepers of this country.A. PETTIGREW.

BELFAST AND NORTH OF IRELAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY'S SHOW.-Although this Exhibition will not occur until the

10th of December, we notice it thus early because the prize list is one of the most liberal we have seen. There are proposed to be eighteen three-guinea silver cups for poultry, the same number for Pigeons, and four for cage birds, in addition to the money prizes. We hope subscribers will promptly aid the Committee.

THE QUEEN BEE.

I MUST believe that the views set forth by Mr. Pettigrew are conscientiously believed and entertained, yet I cannot and will not excuse him if he refuses or neglects to adopt the means of testing, by properly conducted experiments and observations, the various points at issue. In these days of advanced knowledge in almost every department of inquiry, mere assertion and theory are valueless in the face of facts, while haphazard guesses and inferences are worse than useless.

1st. In regard to the evolution of the worker bee. What is the proof advanced by Mr. Pettigrew that it is twenty-one days in the cell? He says, "The readers of this Journal know that I have again and again advised them to turn the bees out of hives on the twenty-first day after the swarms have been removed from them. We find if we do it on the twentieth

day after swarming all the workers are not hatched, and that those unhatched leave their cells after all the bees have been removed. This I have seen again and again-scores of times; therefore I prefer my own and others' statement of days to Mr. Lowe's twenty days."

Now, in regard to the advice here given of waiting till the twenty-first day before turning out the bees, my only remark is that if the object be to have all the brood hatched-drones as well as bees-the period should be still further extended two or three days. But let me ask if this is the proof I am called upon to accept as to the precise number of days occupied in the evolution of the worker bee? This, I apprehend, is no proof at all; it is merely an inference, a conjecture, which settles nothing. In order to ascertain the true period of development of the worker bee, we must not only know the hour and day on which the bee was hatched, but the hour and day on which the egg was deposited. For myself I claim no merit in stating that the worker is not twenty-one days in the cell, but comes forth a perfect insect on the twentieth day. I have simply verified by properlyconducted experiments and observations that fact which Huber, the prince of apiarians," has long ago demonstrated, and which has been acquiesced in and confirmed by Dr. Bevan, Dr. Dunbar, the Rev. Mr. Langstroth, and many other eminent

students of bee life.

It so happens that at this moment I have a case in point in my apiary. A pretty strong hive lost its queen in the spring. The bees held well together notwithstanding. On Saturday the 11th of April I introduced a fertile queen along with some two or three hundred bees-the whole stock of a weak colony, and joined them to the queenless hive. Some ten or twelve hours after I examined the hive, and observed, on drawing up a frame, that a considerable number of eggs were deposited. On Friday the 1st of May current, at the same hour, or exactly twenty days after the introduction of the queen, I pulled up the frame and found several young bees traversing the comb. If twenty-one days were required for the development of the insect, I should have seen no hatched bees till at the least twenty hours later, even on the assumption that eggs were deposited the very moment the queen was introduced.

2nd. What is Mr. Pettigrew's proof as to the transference of eggs by the bees from one cell to another? He says, "Hundreds if not thousands of times have we seen eggs in royal cells that were not there when the queens and swarms were removed. The eggs had been in worker cells, and removed by the bees to royal cells. This fact upsets the position Mr. Lowe has taken in asserting that the bees do not transfer eggs from worker cells to royal cells. If Mr. Lowe will visit me in a month or two I will show him scores of empty queen cells as soon as the queens have been taken from them to their hives, and three days later I will show him the same cells occupied by brood being reared into queens."

Now, if these were facts, I admit at once that my position would indeed be upset. But here let me suggest, May not Mr. Pettigrew be under a mistake in fancying that these royal cells found tenanted by larvæ three days after the queen's removal were actually the identical royal cells in existence previously, or, if so, that they contained no egg at the time in question? There is such a thing as an optical delusion; and I therefore fear that, however much I should be delighted in paying a visit to Mr. Pettigrew's apiary on other grounds, yet on this I should, according to the old saying, simply have "my coming for my going," and that our conclusions might be somewhat similar (though of course from entirely different causes) to those narrated of two great statesmen, who, on entering the House of Commons with optics a little obscured by a too long sederunt after dinner, the one declared he thought he saw two speakers in the chair, while the other emphatically asserted that he could not even see one. Mr. Pettigrew's straw hives are so

capacious, and no doubt have, like others of their kind, so many concealed corners, that I fear our optics would also be obscured, and that it would be impossible to pronounce with certainty as to how the hive had been left regarding royal cells. Besides, the habits of the bee are the same in England as in Scotland, and I do not require to cross the border to be enlightened on this point, for in all my experience, and it is not a little, I have never witnessed the "facts" stated by Mr. Pettigrew in any case of artificialising or queen-rearing.

3rd. What is the proof furnished by Mr. Pettigrew as to the evolution of the queen bee in fourteen days?

transferred from one cell to another by the workers, and that Suppose Mr. Pettigrew's assumption is right, that eggs are the swarm and queen, and that such eggs so deposited beeggs are set in royal cells by the bees after the departure of come fully developed into princesses in fourteen days thereperfecting of the royal bee from the period of its being transafter; the fact that fourteen days only are required for the ferred by the worker to the royal cell, is no proof that only fourteen days are required from the emission of the egg from the mother queen to its complete evolution. The eggs take three days in hatching, and unless Mr. Pettigrew can tell me the age of the have no data on which to found any conclusion whatever. Here egg when it is, as he says, transferred into the royal cell, he can it is, I think, where Mr. Pettigrew has fallen into error. Queens reared artificially-i.e., from eggs deposited in worker cells, and queens reared naturally-i.e., from eggs deposited in royal cells, When, therefore, we say that a queen is reared artificially in occupy in reality the same period of time in their evolution. thirteen or fourteen days, we count not from the time the egg is deposited, but from the period the larva destined for royal honours is chosen and operated on by the workers; and when we say that a queen is reared from the egg, either naturally or artificially, in sixteen days, we, of course, reckon from the moment the egg is deposited by the queen. The difference of two or three days between the two methods of procedure-that from the egg and that from the larva-is accounted for by the bees availing themselves of their power of operating on the in the time of evolution after such operations are commenced, worker larva, and not on the unhatched egg. Any discrepancies depend, no doubt, principally upon the age of the larva so chosen. I have had queens reared artificially in cases where they had a choice of larvae of all ages, varying from twelve to fourteen days, and one from the Egyptian race in somewhat less than twelve days; but in cases where the bees had no such choice, when they were only supplied with newly-deposited My experiments in the rearing of queens are so numerous that eggs, the period of evolution I found to be about sixteen days. it would only be occupying unnecessarily space in giving particulars and dates; but I think it may be safely said that from twelve to thirteen days is the average period required in the evolution of the queen bee from the moment the egg is hatched, which, as I have already stated, is three days, making, therefore, about sixteen days in all. Though this appears to be the normal time, yet I have known instances when the period of evolution was prolonged several days, owing, no doubt, to certain conditions of the hive, weather, and temperature. The effects of temperature exercise, according to all naturalists, considerable influence in the maturing and development of insect life. The general rule, however, holds good, notwithstanding these discrepancies, which are merely exceptional.

Now as to the contests of queens. I simply pointed out to Mr. Pettigrew what the rule was in the circumstances to which he referred-namely, when "two swarms are united" or

flung together" with, of course, fertile queens. In such a case the queens are not allowed to do battle, and one is always destroyed by the bees. If Mr. Pettigrew has witnessed a confiict in such circumstances, I should be obliged for the narrative; of course an exception to any rule may occur while there is a possibility, but all I can say is that in all my experience I have never seen it broken. In regard to virgin queens the case is very different, and mortal combats frequently take place between them; and even with mother queens when forced into contact under peculiar circumstances, such as when you confine two together along with a few bees, I have noticed them engage in conflict, the bees being too few to encase either, and thus prevent it.; but of the bees must be affected, I have seen such an encasement even in such unfavourable conditions, where the natural instinct resorted to. The exhibition of queen duels by Major Munn, referred to by Mr. Pettigrew, must have been under such circumstances as these; but most probably by virgin queens, similar to the interesting narrative given some four years ago in these pages by that excellent and trustworthy correspon

dent "R.S."

Lastly, in regard to the fertility of the queen bee, and that "some trustworthy experiments have indicated four and six thousand eggs per day each queen," I am informed that this statement is from an American source, and appeared in this Journal some years ago. I cannot lay my hands upon it, but perhaps it is not of much consequence. The real point is, not

what the queen can or may be supposed to do in other countries and other climes, but what we find from our experience she really does in our own apiaries; and if we note this carefully we shall be less inclined to have recourse to American statistics in connection with the queen's ovipositing capabilities.

I have not attended to Mr. Pettigrew's peculiar views as to the sexual or rather non-sexual character of the eggs as emitted from the ovarium of the queen, and that a royal princess can be reared from a drone egg, or eggs in drone cells. From the fact that he has not reiterated these in the recent article on the queen bee, it is to be hoped that he has abandoned them as untenable. I hope I have dealt fairly by those I have here referred to. I have endeavoured to avoid all imitation of the special pleading and "eloquence coupled with assumptions and presumptions of the barrister to which Mr. Pettigrew refers. I have laid before him only plain and unadorned statements and facts, and if these will have the effect of inducing Mr. Pettigrew to institute fresh experiments after the fashion I have indicated, I have only now to express the hope that he will kindly favour us with the results.

After writing the above I have just noticed Mr. Shearer's article, in which he gives a case of a queen being matured on the fourteenth day after the time the egg was supposed to be deposited. I have only time here to ask Mr. Shearer if the evolution of the queen on the sixth day after being sealed, as there stated, is in accordance with his other experiences in queenrearing?-J. LOWE.

OUR LETTER BOX.

ERRATUM.-On page 413 the title under the cut should have been "A cross between a Dominique cock and a Guinea hen," and not that accidentally and erroneously put by the printers.

Books (E. M. D.).-Brent's "Canary and British Finches." It may be had free by post from our office if you enclose nineteen post stamps with your address.

BRAHMA HEN ON BANTAM EGGS (T. W.).—If you have no other broody hen it is a case of "needs must," but we do not think you will be successful. We should advise you to buy or borrow a Bantam or very small hen under which to put the eggs. Brahmas are good and careful mothers, but Game chickens are hatched so small, and the Brahma is so heavy, that there must be constant accidents. It is more than likely if you make inquiry you will find some neighbour in difficulty the other way; he may want to set large eggs, and may have only a small hen. Change for the time.

о

GOLD AND SILVER PHEASANT CHICKS (N. H.).-For the first three or four days after the poults are hatched they should be kept in a small enclosure in front of the rip. It should be on short grass in a dry spot, and is easily made. It should be the width of the rip in which the hen is confined, from 3 or 4 feet in length; two planks of that length and 12 inches high, with one of the same height and the width of the rip are all that is required. They are generally fastened with pegs thus: Where Pheasant-breeding is an annual pursuit, some of these frames are kept ready made. The top must be covered with netting (wire is the best) to protect the young from enemies, and their food from depredators. Their food should be chopped egg, curd, bread and milk, and dough. They require feeding very often during the first three days, and frequently afterwards. When this time is passed the little enclosure may be done away, but the hen must be carefully kept under the rip. The question of water is a vexed one. Many do without it altogether. We prefer a middle way. We do not approve of their having water always by them, but we would certainly give it morning, mid-day, and evening. Fresh water every time, and spring

water.

TAKING CHICKENS FROM THEIR MOTHER (H. F. C.).-Time of year has much to do in answering your question. In the autumn or winter the chickens would die if the hen left them at six weeks old. At this time of year they will not. If they have been accustomed to roost in the rip with the hen, they will still go there after she has left them. In such a case it will be a wise precaution to put up every night a board in front of the rip, and to fasten it there. It is a protection from anything hurtful. They will only require it for about three weeks. At whatever time a hen may lay, she is no mother to her chickens afterwards. She knocks them about. In hot weather the chickens do not want her cover at night; during sharp east winds they do. It will advance her laying if she has her liberty.

SPANISH HENS DYING (W. P. B.).-Do not feed so liberally. The hens are too fat, and the egg-passage probably contracted. We will have another opinion, and publish it next week; but at all events lower the diet.

ROOSTING PLACE FOR CHICKENS.-Let " Puzzled" place a deal box about 1 foot wide, without a lid, upon its side, and lay a little hay in it. The chicks will be glad of the shelter this affords from the worry of the hens.-INEX

PERIENCED.

TAR ON FANTAILS (F. S. H.).—We were once in exactly the same trouble ourselves; our snow-white pets became tar-smeared. We tried butter or grease, and the web of the feather was injured; we tried scraping, and no success; then we pulled out all the feathers we could, and clipped the tarry ends off others, and made our bird look tolerably decent; but it was not in nice trim until the next moult put all right. The American who invented the punishment of tarring and feathering knew well what he was about, for tar and feathers stick together most pertinaciously.

POUTER (J. L).-It is an exaggeration, but portrait painters say that no likeness is good unless it appears better than the original. We shall not notice the book until completed.

GROUND OATS (C. R.).—We do not know Messrs. Marsh's address. They should advertise.

SALT CAT (C. R.).—We extract the following from Brent's "Pigeon Book." "Salt cat is composed of about equal quantities of a clean unctuous loam, such as brickmakers use; a coarse gritty sand, or fine gravel, in which the grains are about the size of pins' heads; and old mortar; to this is added a mall quantity of large-grained salt. Some persons, to make it more attrac

20th.-Cold, dull at times, but fine. 21st.-Fine throughout; cold in early morning. 22nd.-Warm, fine, bright morning; thunderstorm began at 4 P.M. with heavy rain; close damp evening.

23rd.-Rain in early morning; slight showers at intervals during the day. 24th.-Warm, sunny, bright day; beautiful evening. 25th.-Bright in early morning, soon become cloudy; thunderstorm commenced at 11.30, and was heavy from noon to 1.30 P.M.; heavy rain ; fine evening.

26th.-Fine, pleasant, and bright throughout. Barometer lower, temperature higher, and air less dry than in previous weeks.-G. J. SYMONS.

Lettuce........

1 6

20

Mushrooms........ pottie 10 20

B. d. d. doz. 1 0 to 20

0 6

7 0

00

40

1 0

5 0

60

00

0 0

1 6

8. d. s. d Artichokes... doz. s 0 to 6 U 6 0 Asparagus... 100 8 0 French ....... 3 0 10 0 Mustard & Cress..punnet 0 2 Beans, Kidney.... 107 2 0 0 0 Onions bushel 4 0 Broad bushel 0 0 0 0 pickling........ quarto 6 Beet, Red.......... doz 1 0 80 Parsley per doz. bunches 20 Broccoli.......... bundle 0 9 Parsnips............ doz. 09 doz. 1 0 Cabbage............ 16 Peas.............. quart 2 0 Capsicums.....100 00 0 0 Potatoes.......... bushel 8 6 Carrots............ bunch 0 6 0.0 Kidney .......... do. 0 0 Cauliflower.......... doz. 4 0 10 0 New..... lb. 0 0 Celery............ bundle 1 6 20 Radishes.. doz. bunches 10 Coleworts.. doz. bunches 2 6 4 0 Rhubarb.......... bundle 0 9 Cucumbers 10 Salsafy.......... bundle 1 6 ........ each 0 6 pickling ........ doz. 0 0 0 0 Scorzonera...... bundle 1 0 Endive............................ doz. 2 0 0 0 Sea-kale.......... basket 0 0 bunch 0 8 0 0 Shallots.............. lb. 0 8 Garlic................ lb. 06 0 0 Spinach.......... bushel 9 0 Herbs.......... ..bunch 0 3 Horseradish...... bundle 8 0 Leeks..............bunch 0 3