22



Two absurdities attracted my attention, (i) A pair of

Paradise Whydahs in a cage suitable perhaps for the two birds

in undress, but which the male in full fig. found highly

inconvenient for the decorous handling of his full court train ;

(2) A House Sparrow, which a gentleman with a Scotch name,

presumably from some out of the way place in the Highlands or

Islands, sent up so that we poor Londoners might have a chance

of seeing Passer domeslicus for once in our lives.


The judge (foreign birds) was scarcely happy in some of

his awards.


Amongst the British birds (“ Migratory.—Any Variety,”

and “ Any other Variety British Bird.”), perhaps two fine

Choughs attracted most attention, but one unhappily had injured

his bill. These birds are most diligent hunters after insects in

crevices and under stones on the sea shore, turning the stones

over and groping about amongst them in a most industrious

manner, the long, curved, very fine, narrow bill being specially

adapted for the purpose. Not but what they will accompany the

ploughman like a Rook when unmolested. The injured bird had

evidently been following his instincts in captivity to his own

undoing. A male Chough (the female is often shy and timid)

with semi-liberty makes a grand pet, but is out of place and

thrown away in a cage.


Mr. Maxwell exhibited a superb Wryneck ; but the poor

fellow, standing as bolt upright on his bare perch as a scared

Scops Owl, did look so absurdly conscious of his incongruous

surroundings ! He would have given the best feather in his tail

for twelve inches of apple-tree sprout. A specimen each of the

Greater and Lesser Black-spotted Woodpeckers were interesting,

the latter being not often seen at the Shows. Mr. Maxwell’s

Black Redstart was hardly in good form. I failed to see his

Blue-headed Wagtail which took the second prize. More than

once, when visiting a Show in the morning, I have noticed

special birds carried off to a quiet corner in order to be sketched

or painted. This is most unfair, and ought not to be allowed.

We pay our money, come a considerable railway journey, and

put ourselves to much inconvenience in order to see the birds,

and especially the special birds, and no bird should be

moved from its place during show hours except on account of

sickness. I do not say that this particular exhibit had been

removed for the purpose suggested because I do not know. A

good Grey Wagtail was shewn by Mr. Allen. Mr. Wilson had

a nice, though small, Missel Thrush : and a Grasshopper



