EXHIBITING 131 



The Last Thing To Do. 



The day before the show the birds should be run 

 into the show cages, which should be clean and quite 

 ready to receive them ; each cage should be wrapped in 

 paper and placed in the travelling-case. Fasten the case 

 securely, and despatch it so that it will reach the show 

 in good time. Exhibits often get delayed by the railway 

 authorities, and it is most provoking to have one's cages 

 labelled " Too late for competition." 



Attend the Shows if possible. 



Young fanciers should make a point of attending the 

 shows at which they exhibit when it is at all possible 

 to do so. They will then be able to compare their own 

 stock with the winning specimens, aud thus see in what 

 particular pomt or points they fail. In addition to this, 

 by mixing with older fanciers they will gain much informa- 

 tion that will prove of service to them. If the judge is at 

 all get-at-able it is a good plan to ask him to tell you how 

 your birds fail to the winners, and also ask his advice 

 as to your future breeding. Most of our judges will give 

 this information to a young hand, and such information 

 should be highly prized. 



Treatment after the Show. 



When birds reach home from a show they should be 

 well cared for. Directly they are unpacked they should 

 have some fresh-made egg-food given them ; instead of 

 water give them warm milk to drink, with a few drops 

 of gin in it. If a bird looks at all drooping, it should be 

 placed near the fire, and it will, generally speaking, soon 

 revive, after which it may be returned to the bird-room 

 with its fellows. If the weather is very cold, and the 

 birds have had a long journey, a little cayenne pepper 

 may be sprinkled over the egg food. My last words on 

 exhibiting are in the form of a caution : Don't show 

 your birds too often. Five or six times during the season 

 is quite often enough to show a bird. 



