Canary Exhibitions in Belgium. 



205 



plus gift, plus entrance fees (which latter item, however, is not depended on), pay for the '^rXz&s first ; 

 then if any money remains to the credit of the society it goes towards the feast, and makes each 

 member's contribution on that important occasion so much the less. 



"The society ®f any town can, if its funds are flourishing, hold such open shows as those of 

 which prospectuses have been given. There are times also when shows are held in the spring, at 

 which older birds are exhibited, but always in pairs for breeding, and the awards go to the best 

 and most uniform pairs adapted for this specific purpose so far as the eye can judge of their 

 suitability. 



FIG. 56. — BELGIAN SHOW-CAGE. 



" The shows are always held in the ' estaminet ' where the society meets, and there is no 

 charge for use of room nor for admission. 



" The cages are of a uniform pattern and colour (Fig. 56), and are provided by the society or 

 house. 



" The birds are brought in on the Friday, as per rules, in travelling-cages (Fig. 57), or in bags 

 (Fig. 58). The travelling-cage speaks for itself, and is usually a well-made piece of furniture of 

 mahogany, with several perches just sufficiently high to keep the birds clear of the ground. The 

 bag is a circular disc of wood to which a linen top with worked holes is nailed, and an excellent 

 contrivance it is. 



"The bird having been brought in, the bringer takes a small slip of paper and writes the name 

 and address of the owner and exhibitor upon it, which, afteV he has placed the bird in a cage with 

 seed sufficient to last for the next three days, he then places under the drawboard, and immediately 

 a piece of white paper is gummed over the end, so that it is not possible to draw it out again 



