196 



credited with 252 marks, the Roarer beat him b\' 28 

 strokes. 



Immiediately, protest is entered by Costeniionger 

 Joe, fair play having been violated by the use of the 

 colored cloth. Bill retorts by calling into question the 

 fairness of the beer-glass episode. One word leads to 

 another, the spectators mingle in the strife, expressions 

 ot opinion and sympath}- with either party are getting 

 more and more select, and a battle of another kind 

 seems imminent. Joseph declares he has won, but Long 

 William insists on " fighting " him for the stakes. This 

 mode of settling the question being declined by Joe, the 

 landlord is called upon to exercise his functions of 

 umpire. With characteristic disinterestedness, he declares 

 the whole affair null and void, and orders a fresh match 

 to be sung for the same stakes that day week, and on the 

 same spot. 



Tlie original publication of the above description of 

 a Chaffinch singing match was with the object of illus- 

 trating some of the means resorted to to induce the 

 birds to sing at their best. Ordinarih', birds are 

 encouraged by whistling or speaking to them, but such 

 highly-trained specimens as the two mentioned, can be 

 recalled from any lapse of dut}' b\^ certain signs or 

 movements of their masters, of which those described 

 above form but a small part. 



[The article by Mr. Rettich, "A Chaffinch Singing 

 Match," was published some five or six years ago in a 

 contemporary monthly magazine. I remembered it 

 quite well, and it occurred to me to approach Mr. 

 Rettich with a view to re-publishing it in our Journal : 

 feeling that it would appeal to British bird fanciers, 

 who, in all probability, have never read it before. Mr. 

 Rettich kindly consented to let me have it for the benefit 

 of his fellow-members. — W. A. L.] 



