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Finch or Bunting), Class 98 (Skylark). Each of these classes

was good of its kind ; the Yellowhammers especially were for

the most part splendid birds. The A. O. V. was chiefly made up

of Reed-buntings, with two exceptions: firstly, a nice Corn¬

bunting which won a well deserved 2nd ; and a Mealy Redpoll, a

migratory bird in its wrong class, which was awarded 3rd ! !


Class 99 (A. O. V. Eark or Pipit, Resident or Migratory).

1st was a nice Wood Lark in a rather dark cage. 2nd a good

Meadow Pipit, 3rd a Shore Lark, 5th a Tree Pipit, the remainder

of the class being composed of Meadow Pipits and Wood Larks.


Class 100 (Robins). A very small class, and, except for

those in the money, not of great merit. One could hardly see

the 1st prize bird, for the ornamentation of frost and snow, which

would have been much better omitted.


Class 101 (Blackbird), Class 102 (Thrush), and Class 103

(Starling). Beyond noticing the fact that these classes were well

filled with birds of fine quality, there is nothing to say about

them. The Starlings were perhaps rather below the high quality

usually seen.


Class 104 (Magpie, Jackdaw, Jay, Chough) contained many

splendid Magpies, a few nice Jays, one or two Jackdaws, among

which we noticed 1994, which was not only a good bird but a

good talker ; one good Chough, which took premier honours ;

and one indifferent Chough, which, for some obscure reason, was

awarded V. H. C. The 2nd and 4th went to Magpies, and the

3rd to a Jay.


Class 105 (Pied or Albino). As compared with previous

years this class was but poorly filled, and with the exception of

the remarkable Bullfinch, half-hen half-cock, to which I referred

last year, there was nothing worthy of serious notice. A Pied

Linnet, Pied Sparrow, Cinnamon Blackbird, Pied Greenfinch,

White Blackbird (very inferior compared with Mrs. Herbert’s,

which has hitherto for many years topped the class), and a Black

Bullfinch with light-coloured wings, complete the number.


Class 106 (A. O. V. Resident Insectivorous, small). A Corn-

bunting is rightly disqualified, and next we have a beautiful little

Cole Tit. A very nice Lesser Spotted Woodpecker takes 3rd ;

and next to it a nice Yellow Wagtail, in its wrong class, is dis¬

qualified. The 1st prize is taken by Mr. Maxwell’s Stonechat, a

perfect gem and in beautiful condition. 4th and H. C. are two

nice Nuthatches; and a beautiful Grey Wagtail is second.


Class 107 (A. O. V. Resident Insectivorous, large). This



