396 The Canary Book. 



be more unsatisfactory to judges than classes of this kind, 

 for birds of every known variety are eligible to compete 

 together in one class, and the question naturally arises, are 

 these birds to be entered on their merits as show specimens, 

 or for the condition in which they are shown? Should they 

 be taken out of their cages and examined to ascertain which 

 are the plumpest, the best fed, and conditioned ? Are they 

 on the same lines as trussed fowls and fat pigs, or what? 

 Judges, in the absence of instructions to the contrary, go 

 for the best bird, according to the rules for class judging, 

 regardless of the amount of flesh each body may contain. 

 I should not be surprised to learn that many of the birds 

 exhibited in these classes have not partaken of a whole 

 penny packet of the food upon which they are presumed to 

 have been reared; and so far as legitimate fanciers are 

 concerned, the whole proceeding appears to be a farce, 

 and a mere method of advertising. Would it not be com- 

 mendable for the Committee of Shows to refuse these special 

 gifts on the conditions named, as they cannot be considered 

 advantageous to either honest exhibitors or themselves, and 

 they certainly open a wide gate for wrong doers? 



DISTRICT PRIZES. A few prizes of small amounts should 

 be offered for competition to fanciers living in the town and 

 neighbourhood where the show is held. A radius of five miles 

 might be allowed, and the classes confined to working men or 

 cottagers only. I have tried the experiment, and was extremely 

 pleased with the result, as I found it had a tendency to foster 

 a spirit of enterprise and emulation among this class of fanciers. 



PRIZES FOR PACKING CASES. I am of opinion, too, that it 

 would be good policy on the part of committees if they were to 

 offer special prizes for the two most approved packing cases 

 sent to the exhibition containing specimens to be shown. 



THE COMMITTEE, THEIR DUTIES, &c. The duties of com- 

 mittee men are neither so onerous nor laborious as those of 

 the secretary and treasurer of a show, particularly the former, 

 for upon him the weight of the work rests. They should 

 render all the assistance they can to these functionaries to 



