132 



that no liann will be done to the birds. Feeding as I here 

 recommend is quite a different thing from feeding on hot 

 cayenne pepper, and at the same time denying the birds 

 all other food in order to make them eat it. I do not 

 believe in starving any bird on to colour-food. On the 

 contrary, I believe in giving him a supply of seed also — 

 but I have found my birds often go for the colour-food in 

 preference to the seed. Of course, if you can provide 

 a sufficient supply of the various wild seeds in their ripe 

 state, and moult your birds upon them, they will 

 develop a wonderful brilliancy of plumage — but when 

 these natural colour- foods fail, you are bound to substitute 

 artificial ones, to gain the desired result. 



Chari^eS H0UI.TON. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



BRITISH BIRDS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 

 Mr. Laske}' has taken strong objection to my 

 criticism of Class 104 (Pied and Albino), he being the 

 Judge of same. He takes exception particularly to my 

 suggestion that the Pied Robin should have been 

 awarded third prize instead of the Black Bullfinch. 

 Mr. Laskey says that the Pied Robin was very wild 

 during the judging, and that several of its flights were 

 missing. I can only say that the bird was not wild 

 when I was writing m}' report, and that the absence of 

 the flights was not noticeable when the bird was at rest. 

 It is by no means the first time that a bird has presented 

 to the reporter a very different appearance from that 

 which it had when before the judge. Further, a 

 reporter has not the opportunity of a judge of handling 

 an exhibit. 



Mr. Laskey writes, " I do not care a rap for opinions 

 expressed on my judgment, but as a member of the 

 Committee of the N. B. B. & M. C. I must ask you for a 

 pu])lic explanation," etc. INIr. Laskey has hereb}' the 

 public explanation he asks for, and I would only say in 

 conclusion, that if a report be not the expression of the 



