the exhibits in the German Roller class, and a self- 

 coloured hen Canary I certainl}^ think it to be. Mr. 

 Colton's Chaffinch-Greenfinch, or Greenfinch-Bramble- 

 finch, or something-or-other, was a bit more of a 

 puzzle, though careful scrutiny failed to reveal other 

 than a Goldfinch-Canary curiously niis-niarked with 

 patches of black feathers — troubled, doubtless, with 

 some form of melanosis. The much-discussed cin- 

 namon Canary-Bullfinch made its bow to a Palace 

 audience ; the first of a long series let us hope, for it 

 is a truly delightful bird. Mr. lyambert Brown has 

 evidently seen fit to "right-about-face" his opinion 

 concerning the parentage of these birds, for we re- 

 member him as a vehement opponent of their right to 

 their present appellation. This gentleman is to be 

 congratulated on awards that gave general satisfaction. 

 In two or three cases individual opinions favoured 

 other birds for premier honours ; but even the cogno- 

 scenti most interested admitted the merit of the 

 declared winners. Personally I took serious exception 

 to one award only — the winning dark lyinnet-Canary — 

 and this, as it is at direct variance with the opinions 

 of far more competent judges, must be taken simply 

 for what it is worth. This cinnamon-coloured speci- 

 men seemed to me to win only because it was rare- 

 feathered. The cinnamon Canary-BuUie, probably the 

 best all-round specimen of its cross for shape, contour, 

 and size, gets but the second award, and rightly so too, 

 as it obviously lacks, owing to its colour, the correct 

 fancy properties possessed by the winner. But this 

 cinnamon Linnet-Canary, (not near the size of some 

 of its competitors, and lacking almost entirely the 

 verve and go so characteristic of its variety, besides 

 suffering under the same disabilities as the cinna- 

 mon Canary - BuUie as regards the correct fancy 

 properties), is adjudged the winner, and a really typical 

 specimen, for colour shape and polish a picture, is 

 relegated to second position. Why? 



