152



The Crystal Palace Bird Show.



thirteen birds. I heard one of the former singing freely whilst

judging a class near. Skylarks, although of high merit, were

small in number, which was a disappointing feature considering

the great age to which these birds live in confinement, and the

fact that they have been easily bred and are one of the easiest

birds in the world to retain alive and in song in captivity. The

production of a tip-top show bird in perfect feather, however,

requires considerable care.


The Small Resident Insectivorous and Seed-eating Section

contained ten birds, a Nuthatch, two Goldcrests, three Tree

Creepers, a Grey Wagtail, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and a

Redstart, the last named, although a delightful bird, was “ wrong-

classed” owing to it not being a resident. The winner in this

class, a bird never yet beaten, was a delightful example of the

Dartford Warbler, claimed at the catalogue price of ^12 10s., and

exhibited by Mr. John Frostick of Balham, an original member

of this Society. Those who do not know the delightfully capti¬

vating antics of this hardy little Warbler lost a “sight” in

missing this. To exhibit for the benefit of the general public, a

live specimen in perfect health and condition and remarkably

tame, of a little known bird, is, to say the least, conferring

a boon on the community.


Ten birds competed in the class for Small Migratory

Insectivorous and Seed-eating Birds. Among these we noticed

two LesserWhitethroats, two yellow Wagtails, someWheatears and

an excellent example of the Crested Lark in perfect condition.


Large Soft Feeders were also an interesting feature, the

class containing two Redwings, two Missel Thrushes, three Wax-

wings and a Great Grey Shrike. Extra classes this year were

added for Novices, and were well filled. Among the hybrid

sections were a large number of the Canary-Bullfinch cross and

among other Bullfinch crosses we noticed those with the Green¬

finch, Redpoll, Goldfinch, Linnet, and a bird exhibited as a Chaff-

finch-Bullfinch. This was wrong classed, and, from obtainable

evidence and appearance of the specimen, we agree with the

verdict. The bird differed only from a normal Bullfinch in having

a brownish crown and white lesser wing coverts. The former

seems merely an inability to have produced black feathers on the



