Foreign Birds at Torquay Show. 167 



personal disgust discovered my error, but, of course, though 

 hybrids were ineligible in a class for species the placings had 

 to stand. 



I noted the following" as some of the rarest and most 

 beautiful species staged: Yellow-lored Amazon Parrot, 

 Turciuoise-rumped Passerine Parrakeet, Red-crested Finch, 

 Lazuli Bunting, Amethyst Starling, Blyth's Starling, Superb 

 Spreo (Glossy Starling), African Crimson-crowned Barbet, 

 Satin Bower-bird, Senegal Touracou, Guatamelan Blue Jay, 

 a pair of Tanagridae whose species I failed to recognise, 

 S^'ltators or something" closely akin, I think — also, I believe, 

 new to aviculture. One was pleased to see staged once more 

 a perfect specimen of the Nicobar Pigeon — other gorgeous and 

 uncommon exhibits were Purple Sunbird and Occipital Blue-pie ; 

 one noted with much satisfaction that nearly all the above were 

 good enough to win on condition alone, but, alas! it was 

 impossible for all to gain premier honours in their respective 

 classes, and, separating them was a most unpleasant, if inter- 

 efting, and thankless task. The entries reached a total of 150 

 in this section, and were, apj)arently, the attraction of the show. 



I congratulate Capt. Rattigan and the Committee on 

 such an unique success accruing" to their efforts, for I certainly 

 consider that a better (if as good) or rarer collection of 

 foreign birds has not l^een staged anywhere in the British Isles 

 since the Armistice. 



Budgerigars (13): i. Sp. and C, Mrs. Dalton-Burgess, 

 (lie former an exc[uisite pair of Royal Blues (a new colour form) 

 and the latter a good Blue. 2, Rattigan, pair of good Greens. 

 3, Blackburn, beaten colour and condition. 4, Silver, good 

 light Yellow. V.H.C., Tickell, Green. H.C., Chudleigh. 

 Yellow. 



A very interesting class, giving some indication of the 

 number of colour varieties that have been evolved by careful 

 selection and breeding from the common Green species. Mrs. 

 Dalton-Burgess's pair of Royal Blues (so called by Capt. G. E. 

 Rattigan) were the first of this colour T had seen — a sort of 

 admixture of cobalt and ultramarine shot with purple, yet verv 

 cicar, even and distinct; the ben bird's tail was minus one or 

 two feathers, but in spite of this handicap they were well ahead of 



