58 



hably be fairly easy to cross these two species, but I 

 expect a hen Indigo would be almost as difficult to get as 

 a hen Nonpareil. You might try to cross your Nonpareils 

 with a female of the Japanese Red-backed Bunting- 

 there have been a good many of them about lately, and 

 they can be bought cheap. There is no reason why hen 

 Nonpareils should not live in E)ngland, but they are 

 seldom imported. This species, as well as the Indigo 

 Bunting, has been bred in an English aviary, but, like 

 all Buntings, they will at first feed their young on 

 nothing but live insects. 



THE SHEFFIELD SHOW. 



The vSheffield Cage Bird vSociety held their annual 

 Show on the 27th and 28Lh of November. There were 

 three classes for foreign birds, containing altogether 47 

 entries. We are, unfortunately, without a report of the 

 vShow, and these notes are simply compiled from the 

 catalogue. The chief prize winner was Mr. Osbaldeston, 

 who appears to have shown a wonderfully fine team of 

 birds. Other members of the Club who exhibited were 

 Mr. Oakey, Miss Alderson, Mr. Parker, and Mr. H. B. 

 vSniith— in fact more than three-fourths of the entries 

 belonged to members. The Club's Medal was awarded to 

 Miss Alderson's vShamah " Hector," which from all 

 accounts is a most charming bird. 



R. L. S's SILVERBILLS. 



' Paris, Jan., iSyS. — I have become a bird fancier. I 

 carry six little creatures no bigger than my thumb about 

 with me almost all day long ; they are so pretty ; and it 

 is so nice to waken in the morning and hear them sing.' 

 Six or seven years later he again alludes to these or to 

 •other similar pets. ' There is only one sort of bird that 



