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details, and at last everything was satisfactorily 

 arranged. The week previous to the Show had to be 

 devoted to the compilation of the Catalogue, checking 

 proofs, and sending labels, and passes where necessary, 

 to exhibitors. 



The staging was erected three days previous to 

 the Show, and on the Monday immediately preceding 

 the exhibition the birds arrived at the Crystal Palace. 

 Fortunately the weather, though somewhat cold, was 

 quite free from fog, so there was but little delay in the 

 birds reaching their destination. On arrival, a band of 

 willing workers rapidly unpacked and checked each 

 consignment, and the birds were then taken to their 

 respective classes and fed and watered. As the 

 evening drew to a close, the birds arrived in ever 

 increasing numbers, and several of us passed the night 

 at work in the Palace, so that no birds should be left 

 uncared for until the morning. 



We gave our first consideration to the Foreign 

 birds, and when we had suitably provided for them» 

 willingly lent a helping hand to the other Sections. 



The Judges had been asked to arrive early, and 

 when they came at about nine o'clock, our foreign 

 birds were all on their best behaviour. Long and 

 serious were their deliberations, but at last the awards 

 were made, the prize cards were written out and 

 affixed to the cages of the winners, and then the 

 Special Prizes had to be awarded. These took 

 longer, if anything, than the others, but that also 

 came to an end, and when the cards had been placed in 

 position it was practically on the stroke of two o'clock, 

 the opening time. The Judge's slips were then 

 handed to the printer, and catalogues containing the 

 list of awards were received later in the da}' — very 

 prompt and commendable work. Catalogues were, of 

 course, on sale when the Show opened, but these did 

 not contain the awards. 



