EXHIBITING AND WASHING 



189 



or oblong instead of round, to suit the 

 shape of the show cages. We give an 

 illustration of such a case on page 188. 

 They can be made any size, to hold two, 

 four, or six cages as desired, and make 

 capital packages. They are now in general 

 use by all experienced exhibitors, and can 

 be obtained from all makers of show-cages. 

 Such appliances save secretaries and com- 

 mittees much trouble, as well as being far 

 more secure for the birds than mere 

 canvas. In any case, before fhuilly fasten- 

 ing the package up, it should be seen that 

 the water-tins, rolled in a couple of thick- 

 nesses of pajier, are put inside the packages, 

 and also that a good sujiply of the proper 

 food is included. 



The words " Live Birds " should be 

 painted as conspicuously as ])ossible on the 

 canvas or other package, independently 

 of the show label. This last is now sent 

 reversible by all the best -conducted shows ; 

 but it is as well to have the owner's address 

 iegiblj' painted on the box or basket. 



This tends to prevent cases or birds going 

 astray should the official show label by 

 chance come oi? the case. The exhibitor 

 has now done with his birds when he 

 hands them over safely packed to the 

 officials of the railway company or carrier, 

 who has to take them to their destination. 

 But let us impress one more point on his 

 mind — the last connected with this chap- 

 ter, but not the least. Ahvays despatch 

 the birds, no matter by what means they 

 are going, so that they arrive at the exhibi- 

 tion in good time. It is to the exhibitor's 

 advantage : the birds get reconciled to the 

 strange surroundings, and have a feed and 

 rest before being judged, and consequently 

 stand a nuich better chance of showing 

 themselves to advantage than birds arriv- 

 ing late, with only time to be unpacked 

 and placed right away in front of the judge, 

 as some are, by no fault of the show 

 officials, but entirely through that of the 

 exhibitor and owner of the birds him- 

 self. 



JUDGE AND STEWARD AT WORK. 



A Siiaf^shot at BrackUy Sfiow. 



