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We hear that one of the judges of British birds at the Crystal Palace

adtually threatened to resign if the Avicultural Society’s definition of a

British bird were adopted. We may be mistaken, but we fancy that the news

of the resignation of either, or both, of the British judges would be received

by aviculturists generally with perfect equanimity.



CORRESPONDENCE.



WHAT IS A BRITISH BIRD ?


Sir, —On behalf of the Committee of the British Bird and Mule Club,

I have addressed the following letter to the Crystal Palace Company, re the

acceptation by the Company of the Avicultural Society’s decision that

“British Birds” shall mean any individual (foreign Bullfinches and Gold¬

finches excepted) of any species included in Mr. Howard Saunders’ Label

List of British Birds (excluding those species the English names of which

are printed in italics)


Dear Sir, —At the monthly meeting of the Committee of the British

Birds and Mule Club, held on Thursday last, it was proposed and carried

unanimously, that “the British Bird and Mule Club draw up a list of birds

that shall be entitled to compete for their gold medals given for most points

in British classes,” and at the same meeting the information transpired that

the Crystal Palace Company would, at their forthcoming show, accept as

British birds all those species, the names of which were printed in capitals

in Howard Saunders’ List. In a full Committee Meeting a long and

interesting discussion took place on the matter, and, in the end, I was

desired, as a vice-president and chairman of the Club, to point out to you

that such a regulation would admit among British Birds such species as the

Blue-throat, Barred-Warbler, Savi’s-Warbler, Tawny-Pipit, Red-breasted

Ffycatcher, Two-barred Crossbill, Ortolan Bunting, Lapland Bunting, Nut¬

cracker, Crested Lark, Short-toed Lark, and Bee-eater, not to mention many

other varieties which have never yet been admitted as British birds in show

competitions. I am further to mention that while the B.B. & M.C. would

be most anxious not to oppose the Avicultural Societ)', yet the members of

the Committee feel that they cannot support a show at which the above-

mentioned birds are accepted as British birds. A satisfactory list of British

Birds for show purposes cannot be compiled from Mr. Howard Saunders’

list, which includes any bird of which six specimens have been shot, captured,

or seen during the past two hundred years or so, and our own list will not

be decided on without full discussion amongst our members and any others

who may be interested in the matter. Our Committee hope, therefore, that

the Avicultural Society’s definition will not be accepted by the Crj'stal

Palace Company, and that the British classes will be under the same con¬

ditions as heretofore. That the Avicultural Society’s adoption of Mr.

Howard Saunders’ list is an unsatisfactory method of deciding a very

important question is best shewn by Mr. Fillmer’s own note, “That even a

bad rule would be better than no rule at all.” This may be, but in the near

future the Committee of the N.B.B. & M.C. hope to frame a rule which will

not come under the category of bad rules.


On behalf of the Committee,


Yours faithfully,


The Manager, Crystal Palace Bird Show. Henry J. Fueej ames.



