CHAPTER XIV. 



SHOWS. JUDGING. TRIMMING. TECHNICAL TERMS. 



THERE is no need at this date to enter 

 minutely into the details of show man- 

 agement ; but a few points in which im- 

 provement is still often desirable ought to be 

 mentioned. Penning and feeding are generally 

 contracted for now, and many old errors are 

 corrected ; but we are bound to say that cleanli- 

 ness does not seem nearly so well secured now 

 at the great shows as formerly. In the 'sixties 

 it was usual to cover the floors with chaff, 

 which kept the plumage clean ; but the birds 

 were at that time generally fed on grain, and 

 the absence of grit was prejudicial to health. 

 Grit is now substituted at most shows, but with 

 nothing else, and the birds too often become 

 filthy. A very small quantity of 

 Cleanlinesa. grit is required, and if this were 

 covered with chaff, as we have 

 indicated for the training pens, the inmates 

 would be kept in perfect health and cleanliness 

 so far as flooring was concerned. This is not 

 too much to ask of a show committee ; but we 

 have attended one of the largest shows of the 

 year where the pens were not even cleansed 

 daily. We have seen still worse effects, though 

 fortunately this is more occasional, from gaps 

 carelessly left between the boards which, in most 

 shows, have to form the roof of the lower and 

 floor of the upper tier ; the filth from the upper 

 will descend upon the occupant of the lower pen, 

 with results too well known to many an exhibitor. 

 Usually a wash when the bird gets home will 

 remedy matters ; but we have seen cases, at the 

 Crystal Palace itself, where copious discharges 

 from above have corroded the plumage so as to 

 absolutely ruin birds for the rest of the season. 

 We are not sure a committee, and through them 

 the contractors, might not be made liable for 

 damages in a case of this sort, since such evils 

 would be absolutely prevented by the simple 

 e.xpedient of half-lapped or match-boarding. 



Feeding is much improved compared with 

 early practice, and at least one feed a day of soft 

 food is generally given. Still there is room for 

 improvement, this being usually biscuit meal, 

 often scarcely moistened. It is very mucl\ 

 better, though rarely done, to mi.x a certain 



portion of barley meal or oatmeal or ground 

 oats with it, and mix it properly, so that it can 

 be eaten comfortably without all falling to dry 



meal on the floor. It is also still 

 Feeding the usual custom to fill the water 



at Shows. tins for the birds on arrival, which 



they will often drink entirely, to 

 their serious injury ; in particular such thirsty 

 drinking has a uniform tendency to darken, it 

 may be to almost blacken, the combs. A third 

 full is quite enough for the first drinking. The 

 whole grain — wheat is best — is much better 

 supplied in two small feeds than one large 

 one, and gives the birds some e.xercise and 

 occupation if well scattered about the pen, as 

 it should be, not just thrown down. 



We hardly know a show yet where green or 

 fresh vegetable food is given. It would be much 

 better if it were, and really very easily managed 

 by such firms as do the contracting now, by 

 slicing up roots into small dice in a hopper 

 machine, and giving a sprinkle to each pen. 

 This is almost the only thing worth fussing 

 about by an exhibitor personally. Should he 

 be attending the show, it is well worth while to 

 take in some lettuces daily for his pets, and a 

 little chopped meat will not come amiss if they 

 have been used to high diet ; but it is worse than 

 useless to fuss about mere food, as some seem to 

 do, apparently anxious lest their birds get 

 enough. They may rest assured that they are 

 far more likely to be overfed than underfed, 

 while they are much better underfed than over- 

 fed ; only such extras as mentioned, which are 

 probably missed, are worth attending to if 

 occasion serves. 



The most important point in some respects 

 of good show management, absolute fair play to 

 all, is unfortunately lacking at many shows, 



particularly in regard to allowing 

 Unfair exhibitors or their men to pen their 



Privileges. q^^,, birds. This manifestly gives 



such birds a considerable advantage, 

 since — to take only one point — their heads and 

 combs can be " freshened up " at the very last 

 moment. These men very often make large 

 entries, and are well known personally through a 



