48 



Another difficulty is that of distinguishing the sexes of 

 birds which aie exhibited in pairs. Here I think the 

 judge's dut}' is plain. In the case of those species in 

 which the sexes can be distinguished by a simple 

 inspection of the birds in their cages he should insist 

 upon their being correctly exhibited. But in the case of 

 tliose species in which the sexes can only be distinguished 

 bv minute differences, such as the comparative width of 

 the beak, he should give the exhibitor credit for a true 

 pair. No bird should ever be reinoved from its cage by 

 the judge unless he lias reason to suspect "faking" or 

 dishonest treatment of some kind. 



A third difficulty is that of deciding whether the birds 

 are exhibited in their proper classes. At one time it was 

 the custom to name the classes so carelessly that it was 

 impossible forjudge or exhibitor to know in what class a 

 bird ought to be shewn. Ten years ago, when the Cr3^stal 

 Palace had classes for " Thick-billed finches," " Small- 

 billed finches," and others with equally vague names, it 

 was the custom for exhibitors to " pay their money and 

 take their choice," frequently winning priaes with birds 

 of the same species in two or three different classes. At 

 the present time, however, I believe judges seldom have 

 much trouble in " wrong-classing " an exhibit, because 

 the classes are more accurately and carefully named and 

 notes generally added for the guidance of exhibitors. 



Another very real difficulty in judging foreign birds 

 arises from the necessity of making the awards very 

 shortly after birds have arrived at the Show and before 

 they have had time to recover from the effects of their 

 journeys. Some birds are affected much more than 

 others, and I have seldom visited a Show on the second 

 day, after judging on the first, without feeling that my 

 awards would have been different in some cases had I 

 been able to give the birds more time to recover from the 

 effects of their travels. Classes containing Gouldian- 

 finches should always be left as long as possible after 

 arrival before being judged, as these birds almost always 

 suffer more or less from travelling. 



