378 The L.C.B.A. Show. 



Most of my readers are aware that shortly after the 

 C.P. Show in February last, the "Foreign Bird Exhibitors' 

 League" was started, having for its object a more extended 

 classification; in the end thi^ society guaranteed thirty'' classes, 

 and. it is with nmcb pleisiire tliat the writer has to record 

 that the initial venture has proved a great success, and, Mr. 

 A. Silver, the secretary of the League and also a member of 

 the F.B.C., is to bo sincerely congratulated of the result of 

 his untii-ing efl'orts. The writer also notes with equal plea- 

 sure that the major portion of the support given to the League, 

 financial and otherwise, comes from members of the F.B.C., 

 while considerably more than eighty per cent, of the total 

 entries were also from members of the F.B.T., and that nearly 

 all our exhibiting members gave liberal support to the gener- 

 ous classification pi'ovided. which was planned and made pos- 

 sible by the F.B.E.L. 



The classes for the common or freely imported species 

 were well filled, one class (Common Firefinches, Cordon Bleus, 

 etc.) totalled 41 entries, abundantly testifying to the popular- 

 ity of these charming pigmies of the bird-world. The rarer 

 Finch and Waxbill classes were also filled witli a goodly array 

 of beautiful birds. Even more so comjilete was the success 

 of the honey-eating, fruit-eating, and insectivorous groups; 

 here M^ere gathered together. Sun birds, Flycatchers, Redstarts, 

 Babblers, Kingfishers, and many others, of such rarity and 

 dazzling beauty that beggars description. In the Hybrid and 

 Albino Class were gathered together some birds of more than 

 usual interest, including Mr. A. Ezra's renowned Lutino Parra- 

 keets. The Parrot^^ classes were perhaps the least notable, 

 here nothing really new appeared, the rarest probably being 

 the Eev. Eaynor's Poeocephali, Aubry's and Levaillant's 

 Parrots, while the palm for exquisite beauty must go to Miss 

 Clare's Hooded and Queen Alexandra Parrakeets. 



In this issue, owing to the exigency of completing 

 indices, it is impossible to review the classes separately, this 

 must be left till our January issue; in this issue we can but 

 briefly pass in review the more notable birds. At the head of 

 these we must place Mr. A. Ezra's Sunbirds; giving a brief 

 description of each. 



Southern Malachite Stjnbird {Xcrfarinia faiimsft). 



