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holds the distinction of being among the worst in its class, very

dark in colour, and rather wild; 1,711 (V.H.C.) was the best

Redstart there. A Redwing, not a very good one, was un¬

noticed, as of course our good friend the Waxwing, and, needless

to say, a Corncrake. A Crossbill in its wrong class was, however,

worthy of a card.


So much for the judging, now for the birds. In Class 98

A.O.V. (small), Mr. Galloway’s Goldcrest takes first, and great

credit is due to that gentleman for having kept it so long ; it

looked rather “ thick” and sat with its head under its wing, and

I should therefore have placed it third ; 2nd was, as stated above,

a splendid Grey Wagtail, and 3rd a Long-tailed Tit in very fine

trim, which ought, undoubtedly, to have taken premier honours ;

1,641 was a nice Meadow Pipit and 1,659 a good Blue Tit.


One word about Class 99, which is in better hands than

mine. Birds of prey are excluded, but a bird larger than most

of our British Birds of prey, feeding solely on raw meat, takes

first prize. Another conundrum !


The Nightingale and Blackcap class was not very remark¬

able. The first prize went to a moderately good Nightingale ;

2nd, to another Nightingale, badly shown and in bad feather ;

3rd, to a very large and good bird, the best Nightingale ; while

the best bird in the class was a very fine Blackcap (No. 1,689)

which got V.H.C.


THE LARGER BRITISH AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.


By Thomas Marshall.


This department of the 1897 Ornithological Revel at the

Crystal Palace having been allotted to me, I snatched what time

I could from the usual round of handshaking and social reunion

which this event annually brings about to jot down a few notes

anent the exhibits in Classes 92, 93, 94, 95, and 99.


Commencing with the Blackbirds, I found much to admire

in the class, the first prize bird (1,560) being a very fine specimen

with wonderfully good bill and eye-cere. The owner of this bird

is to be congratulated on getting both size and quality, a by 110

means common combination in a male Blackbird. The other birds

in this class do not call for further comment excepting 1,558,

which, for so young a bird, had a remarkably deep-coloured bill.


The twenty Song Thrushes forming the next class were an

ordinary lot. The first prize went to the biggest bird (1,575), but

to my mind the best bird in the class was 1,574. a young and very

stylish bird, nicely spotted, and undoubtedly a male, which I



