IOO



The first class which conies into my province is Class 85,

A.O.V. Hybrid, bred from British birds. I noticed after leaving’

the show that I ought to have made some notes on one or two

specimens in the former class, and am very sorry I did not do so

as there was one bird in particular, viz., Mr. C. J. Ward’s Lfinnet-

Bullfinch, which I should much like to have noticed. However,

to return to Class 85, more than half were Greenfinch-Goldfinches

and very handsome birds some of them were. They were all very

much alike ; in some the blaze was brighter, and in others the

size and shape partook of one parent more than the other, but

the markings were very similar in all ; the breast, wings, and tail

most resembled the Goldfinch, and the blaze was well marked in

all ; the back and head, however, showed their Greenfinch

affinities. I would suggest that exhibitors be asked to state,

where possible, in what wa;^ these birds were bred, i.e., whether

from a Goldfinch cock and Greenfinch hen, or vice-versa, as such

notes would add greatly to their interest. The Greenfinch

seems to be an easy bird with which to hybridise, as, in addition

to those mentioned, we noticed several Linnet-Greenfinches in

the class ; and, in these cases, the Linnet affinities were mostly

visible in the beak, sides and back, and the Greenfinch on the

other parts.


1488 was a nice Linnet-Goldfinch, although it was not

noticed ; in size, shape, and colour of the back we recognise the

Linnet parentage ; the remainder resembled a Goldfinch, except

in the absence of a blaze and the markings on the head.


1496 was a cock Blackbird with a cinnamon tendency, and

had no relative among the Thrushes.


1489 (3rd) a Siskin-Redpoll, showed but little of the

Siskin except in size and on the breast.


1502 (2nd) was a Linnet-Twite, a very unusual hybrid

which, except for its shape and the colour of the beak, might

well have passed for a Linnet.


Class 86 (Bullfinch), and 87 (Goldfinch), were both ver}r

large classes, the judging of which must have been no slight

work. All the birds were good, and we could not detect any

foreigners among them. Some of the Goldfinches were spoilt

by being colour-fed, although, we are glad to say, it did not

in this class avail them much. Several “Extra” prizes were

awarded, but not always, we venture to think, judiciously ; there

was, in our opinion, a great difference in the merit of Nos. 1586

and 1599, both taking a second prize.


Class 88 (Chaffinch) was a nice class, but the majority



