Exhibiting h'orcign Birds. 269 



looked very " soft " on arrival and during;' the judt^insi', and 

 Dcrsisted in crouchini^- at the bottom of its cage with its head 

 thrust into the farthest corner. This, of course, seriously 

 compromised its chances. Later it seemed to grow even worse 

 and sat with its head under its wing, and feathers all puffed 

 out. I believe now that it was merely suffering" from a bad 

 attack of nerves. However, this may have been, I was 



seriously alarmed at the time and in desperation flung in a 

 handful of mealworms. It began to nibble these at once, and 

 in about half an hour, to my utmost relief, was as lively as 

 could be, and upon its perch looking out eagerly for a further 

 supply. Curiously enough all its former shyness now com- 

 ])letely vanished and it took mealworms from my Angers without 

 tlie least hesitation. One could only wish that it had been 

 judged as it ai)])eared throughout the second day of the show. 



Also in this class were fine Red-rump and Pennant Parra- 

 keets, but these, of course, were altogether outclassed here. 

 The bird occupying the last and only cardless position was a 

 T.ayard's Parrakeet, the property of I^ord Tavistock, and a 

 native, the owner informs me, of Ceylon. This bird was 

 probably the rarest one present, and, so far as T can ascertain, 

 has seldom appeared on the show bench. This bird, like the 

 Barraband. was an example of the pitch of perfection to which 

 a cage bird can be brought by care and skilful management. 

 Coloured in the softest shades of purple and green it is a bird 

 of real beauty, carrying a sheen on its plumage comparable 

 to a ripe peach. Apart from its rarity the bird merited the 

 highest commendation, both for its superb condition and for 

 the wondrous harmony of its softly blended colouration. How^ 

 it failed so utterly to catch the judge's eye on this occasion is 

 one of those things no fellow can understand. 



CLASS 230. WHYDAHS, JAVA SPARR(;WS ANT 

 OTHER COAOIOX. NAMED SPECIES (15). 



r and 2 Specials. Mrs. Burgess : A nice pair of Cordon 

 Bleus, b'Jt the hen had lost a few feathers off its crown during 

 the journey, and they were, I think, for this reason if no other, 

 iucky to win here. 



2 and Sp., Capt. Rattigan : A nice Pin-tail W hydah in 

 exhibition condition. 



