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exhibited by Dr. Frederic Dale, and is, without exception, the

most brightly and distinctly marked Goldfinch I ever saw, with a

pure white baud on the nape where other birds have a blurred

whitish bar. The Bullfinches, which are far more difficult to

judge, were, I think, well treated.


Class 109. I was delighted to see that Mr. Davis’ Thick¬

billed Cardinal occupied the place of honour this year. Mr.

Osbaldeston’s Virginian Cardinal doubtless deserved the second

place and got it; but it was by no means the brightest specimen

of the species which I have seen. Mr Housden’s Popes took

third ; they were not a bad pair, though he has had brighter

specimens.


Class no. I was much charmed with Mr. Humphrys’

Trumpeter Bullfinches which rightly took first; Mr. Ball’s

Nonpareil was not a bad example of a cage-moulted bird, but I

should have given precedence to Mr. Housden’s much rarer

Grosbeak (No. 1855). Mr. Maxwell’s Black-headed Siskin was

in grand condition and made the successful winner of last year

look rather dowdy, whilst his Blue Grosbeak, in spite of its

being a little abraded about the base of the beak and elsewhere,

was a lovely bird and a treat to look at. Mr. Ball’s Indigo-bird

must, I think, have been forced into its colour before its time,

but it looked well and happy.


INSECTIVOROUS FOREIGN BIRDS AT THE

CRYSTAL PALACE.


By D. Seth-Smith.


The Crystal Palace Bird Show of 1897, the greatest event

of avicultural interest of the year, has come and gone, and to

lovers of foreign birds it will long be remembered as the finest

show that has been held for many a day. When looking around

a show like the one that has just gone by, one cannot help

realizing that aviculture, although still in its youth, is indeed

growing apace, thanks, in a great measure, to those in whose

minds the happy idea originated of forming a society devoted

entirely to this delightful science.


It was very pleasant to meet several old friends, and to be

introduced to others whose names one has long known, almost

as well as one’s own, although never before having had the

pleasure of an introduction.


The three classes for insectivorous and fruit-eating birds

contained some of the rarest and most interesting birds in



