416 The Canary Book. 



tweezers will be found useful for examining the pinion 

 and body feathers, &c., of the specimens. You must like- 

 wise be supplied with one or two spotless white handkerchiefs 

 and a piece of nice clean cotton wadding, in case you should 

 require to test the genuineness of the colour of any birds. If 

 the legs of a bird are stained with a colouring matter, or the 

 undernue, when blown, appears discoloured, or if the colour be 

 quite uniform throughout and void of bloom, it is pretty 

 evident that the bird has been tampered with. I have detected 

 several in this way. Whilst you are judging be sure to 

 partake of some light refreshment, but avoid alcoholic 

 beverages, unless it be a glass of sherry or good bitter beer. 

 After you enter the show room, and before you commence 

 your duties, take a walk round the hall or room, and satisfy 

 yourself that you thoroughly understand the class arrange- 

 ments. If you observe any birds drooping, or any saturated 

 with water from bathing, remove them to the fire to get 

 warmed or dried, as the case may be, but be sure not to 

 overlook them when you come to judge the classes to which 

 they belong. If you find a bird in a wrong class, call the 

 attention of the secretary to the fact. Always use your own 

 judgment independently in giving awards ; pander to no man 

 in this respect. Should there be two judges, and you fail 

 to agree after carefully going into all the points of the birds 

 in dispute, let the secretary appoint another person to act 

 as referee to decide between you ; his opinion must be final. 

 Where there are three judges, the majority must prevail. 

 When you commence to judge a class of birds look them 

 through very carefully, and place all the best birds that 

 first strike you together ; then commence to compare and 

 examine them minutely, and give your awards. Do nothing 

 hurriedly, and always act conscientiously, honestly, and 

 fearlessly, and with the greatest impartiality, regardless of 

 all consequences ; any man who acts otherwise is unworthy 

 to fill the office. There is no specific rule for judges' charges, 

 but well-known and competent judges generally charge 2 2s. 

 and 3 tSs. for judging a show, according to distance, say, 

 between 50 and 150 miles from home, which is inclusive 



