264 



amongst them greatl}^ enhanced the artistic effect 

 Palms and ferns were also ver}' effectively displayed 

 amongst the cages, giving the Exhibition a decidedly 

 attractive appearance. 



The light during the day was perfect, and was 

 greatly appreciated by Members and visitors. The 

 immense heating apparatus at the Palace, running 

 into miles of hot water pipes, kept the Exhibition at 

 a very agreeable temperature, so no bird suffered on 

 account of the cold. During the evening, great 

 electric arc lamps, supplemented by gas where neces- 

 sary, gave the best possible artificial light. 



The actual number of entries in the section reached 

 195, which is a great advance on any Foreign Bird 

 Classes of recent j^ears. We were extremely pleased 

 to see that all classes had been allowed to stand, with 

 but one exception, and as that was one of the Selling 

 Classes, the loss was not a great one. The average 

 entry was a fraction over thirteen per class, a good 

 response, but not quite a "paying" one. The Parrots 

 and their kindred totalled 44 in four classes, a 

 quantity we hope to see largely exceeded at the next 

 Show. The Dove Class contained eleven entries 

 — which was fairly good — but only three exhibits 

 appeared — which was very bad ! Seed-eaters amounted 

 to 69 in four Classes — Class 147 alone containing 25, 

 which is probably tlie largest number of foreign 

 birds in one class for some time. Perhaps next year 

 this section might be extended, and it would then 

 probably attract more entries, as Seed-eaters are far 

 more generalh^ kept by aviculturists than either 

 Parrots or Insectivorous birds. Softbills numbered 

 44 in three classes, and were certainly the pick of the 

 Section for variety and beauty. The Rare Feathered 

 and Hybrid Class unfortunately only contained three 

 entries : this had been looked forward to as the most 

 interesting class in the Show, and in letting it stand 



