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There were three Brazilian Hangnests, all good birds. Mr.

Fulljames’ Blue Robins were a very nice pair, and a single bird

of the same species, belonging to Mr. Ball, was equally good.

Two good pairs of Pekin Robins were shown ; but, poor little

chaps! they stood no chance of a card in such a class. There

was a very nice Dyal-bird (V.H.C.) shown by Mr. Maxwell.

This bird is said to be one of the most delightful and intelligent

of cage-birds, and it is a great pity that it should not be more

often imported. A very good (V. H. C.) Mocking Bird was

exhibited by Mr. H. Phillips, and a (wrong class) Glossy

Starling was sent by Mr. Swaysland. Mr. Housden’s Blue¬

cheeked Barbet (V.H.C.) was a very nice bird, the survivor of a

pair exhibited last year. Two Golden Orioles were shown by

Mr. Babb, but in a miserable cage and without tails they looked

anything but attractive objects : they were catalogued as

“ nestlings,” but what constitutes a nestling ? These birds were

certainly wearing their adult plumage, in fact, had worn it

nearly all away. I might mention here, with reference to

the question as to whether this species should be considered

“British” or not, that I remember years ago my father telling me

of a pair of Golden Orioles which took up their abode one summer

in our garden in Surrey : they were, of course strictly protected by

him, and although a nest was never discovered, it was evident, by

the movements of the birds, that they had a nest somewhere in

the grounds.


A Pectoral Rail (not Pectral or Pectorial, please) with a

somewhat rough tail, and a very good Chinese Jay-thrush

(V.H.C.) complete the somewhat long list of non-seed-eaters.


On the whole, the show was a grand one, and worth going

a long way to see.



PARROTS AT THE PALACE, 1897.


By C. S. Simpson.


These notes were taken at the end of a very tiring day’s

work of judging, and in a bad light, so I must ask the indulgence

of my readers if the}'- be found in any detail inaccurate.


The Parrot classes were, in every case, well filled, and the

majority of the specimens were of high merit. One expedts,

however, at the Palace, to meet with at least a few novel or

rare birds, and in this respedt this portion of the show was

disappointing.



