16riti6b JSir&6 an^ tbeir 1I3v>bri^6 at 

 tbc Crvstal palace. 



By Geo. E. Weston. 



^rpi^T the great show the worthy Secretary of the 

 JhI N. B. B. & M. C. invited me to give my im- 

 I JL pressions of the British and Hybrid sections. 

 ^ Knowing the risk involved in so doing, I 



think it very uncharitable of him to button-liole me 

 for such a task. Unfortunately, however, in what I 

 feel was a weak moment, I consented — so here goes. 



In the first place, be it said, it was to me — a non- 

 exhibiting, though none the less keen, fancier — a far 

 from unadulterated pleasure to contemplate some of 

 the decisions of the judges. There will always be 

 difference of opinion, and it is as well there should 

 be, for the uncertainty due to its existence is 

 one of the charms of exhibiting. And a good 

 fancier, even though his own bird is beaten in a. 

 struggle where it might have won, does not mind much 

 so long as there is something about the winner which 

 justifies its position. But when we see, at this show 

 of shows, winners of premier honours with feathers 

 either missing or ragged, or lacking all bloom and 

 condition, it makes one almost groan aloud. Again, 

 that burning question " to colour-feed or not to colour- 

 feed " was dealt with in a very unsatisfactory manner 

 — in one class non-fed birds beat otherwise superior 

 colour-fed birds, and in another the pepper-fed ones 

 had it at the expense of equally good natural coloured 

 specimens ; both under the same judge, too ! When 

 the arbiter of our fate doesn't know his own mind, 

 what are we exhibitors to do ? 



With the exception of the judge, the Hybrid 

 section introduced us to few genuine novelties. The 

 reputed Chaffinch-Canary reminded one strongly of 



