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Waxwing and the Bluethroat—have, during the same period, been exhibited

in the Foreign classes.* It would, of course, be very desirable, if it were

possible, to exclude from the British classes all foreigu-caught specimens.t

But it is not possible, as in most species those caught in Britain are

absolutely identical in plumage with those caught elsewhere. Any attempt

to exclude an undoubtedly British species might lead to the great hardship

of the exclusion of some rare Britisli-cauglit specimens.


It is unnecessary for me to enlarge upon the urgent necessity for some

rule upon the subject. That is universally admitted. The Avicultural

Society has proposed a rule which the British Bird and Mule Club, and the

judges at the Crystal Palace, will not accept. It is now the duty of our

critics to at once propose a rule or list of their own. By adroitly quoting

my remark about a bad rule being better than no rule at all, Mr. Fulljanies

has almost made it appear as if I personally disapproved of the rule. This

is not so. I consider the rule the best which could be drawn up which

would have any chance of general acceptance. I confess that I am sceptical

as to the power of the Committee of the British Bird and Mule Club to draw

up a list or rule which will not be even more open to criticism. Neverthe¬

less, as the Council of the Avicultural Society hasjno object in view but the

advancement of aviculture, it will, doubtless, gladly support any fair and

unprejudiced attempt to settle the matter. At the same time, the multiplica¬

tion of rules and lists is to be deprecated, as it must lead to much confusion.


Horatio R. Fiixmer,


Hon. Sec. Avicultural Society.


Sir, —The promise of the Manager of the Crystal Palace to insert in

the Schedule of the forthcoming Cage Bird Show the Avicultural Society’s

definition of a British bird, has called forth a considerable amount of

dissatisfaction from British bird exhibitors; the reason, I take it, being that

they are afraid of some rare bird taking the prize and their’s going un¬

noticed.


Nevertheless, I think it will not be long before exhibitors of British

birds come to the conclusion that it is far better to admit any species

included in the British list. To me it seems absurd to exclude a species

such as the Waxwing, which is a comparatively common winter visitor to

this country. On the other hand, nine out of ten of the Bearded Tits one

sees in British classes at Shows, may safely be considered as Continental

specimens.


We are not likely to see either Rollers or Bee-eaters at shows, but

should one appear it would be a rare treat for lovers of British birds.


No one is more in a position to decide what species are “British”

than Mr. Howard Saunders, who is undoubtedly one of the best authorities



* To put this argument more briefly and pointedly:—All the 115 species admissible

under the Society’s rule are, and have been for years, admissible into the British classes at

the Palace Show. On the other hand several species, not British in any reasonable sense

of the word, but which have hitherto been exhibited in the British classes, would under

our rule be excluded from those classes. The Society’s rule would, therefore, actually tend

to exclude doubtful species, not to admit them.—H. R. F.


t It should be remembered that most of the Siskins and Mealy Redpoles are foreign-

caught. Also that large numbers of Continental (not Russian) Bullfinches and Goldfinches

are exhibited as British without being questioned.—H. R. F.



