iy 8 Some Notes on the Crystal Palace Bird Show.


captivity, and the only example I have ever seen alive was the

specimen which I recently secured for niv collection. Soon

after his arrival in the aviary this bird greatly distinguished

himself by his voracity, seizing a huge piece of suet which he

obstinately retained possession of, although a portion hung out

of his beak, still unswallowed, hours after he had first annexed

this bonne bouche. A full account of this beautiful bird in con¬

finement would be a very interesting contribution to zoological

science.*! This remark also applies to the great majority of the

feathered tribe, many of whom are little known even in the

districts which they inhabit, whilst others, although common

enough in their own land, have, from various reasons, never

hitherto been brought alive to Europe.



SOME NOTES ON THE CRYSTAL PALACE BIRD


SHOW.


This exhibition, which opened on February 13 and closed

five days later, contained some interesting and rare birds, though

it must be admitted that there were not very many kinds with

which the majority of aviculturists are not perfectly familiar.

The show was held under the rules of the Loudon and Provincial

Ornithological Society, whose Committee are to be congratulated

on the selection of experienced aviculturists for their Judges in

the British and foreign sections on the present occasion..


The first of the foreign bird classes was devoted to Love¬

birds and Budgerigars, a pair of Agapomis roseicollis belonging

to Mr. J. Storey taking the first prize.


In the class for other Parrakeets and Lorikeets a pair of

Varied Lorikeets ( Ptilosclera versicolor) owned by Mr. L. W.

Hawkins were prominent, and well deserved the premier honours

on account of their being the first of their kind exhibited in this

country. They seemed to feel the situation keenly however.

The only food provided for them consisted of preserved yolk of

egg and honey, both of which appear to the writer to be



* See Avic. Maj>. Vol. VII.. p. 217 .—Ed.


+ See also IV., pp. 103 and 121; V. pp. 46 and 182.—R.P.



