133



THE AVICULTURAL MAGAZINE REPORTS ON THE

CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW OF 1897.


Sir, —It is a somewhat ungracious task, especially on the part of an

exhibitor, to criticize the critics, but I venture to offer, in all sincerity, the

following remarks upon the articles in the March number of the Avicultural

Magazine referring to the Crystal Palace Show.


I think I cannot do better than begin by noticing Mr. Bonliote’s

“protest against distinctive marks upon the cages, such as instructions for


feeding.” I do not think for a moment that Mr. Bonhote is


referring particularly to me, but as every one of my cages had a label,


“ Please do not feed,” I trust I may be excused in explaining that these

labels were affixed after the judging.


Those who saw the sticky mess which did duty for “ food ” at the

show, and which is very justly condemned by Mr. Marshall as “ simply

disgraceful,” will admit that it was a very necessary precaution to instruct

the attendants not to give it to one’s birds. A Starling might have

managed to exist for a day or two upon it, but to give it to delicate

insectivorous or fruit-eating birds was simply an outrage. I know my own

birds would have starved rather than eat such a mixture. Hence my

“distinctive labels,” “Please do not feed.”


I shall not occupy your space by going, in detail, through the -

differences of opinion between your contributors and the judges, as they

represent, of course, only one opinion against another, but I should, neverthe¬

less, like to endorse Mr. Bonhote’s mention of the Lesser Redpolls as having

been unjustly overlooked. Our judges do not seem to know that the Lesser

Redpoll is a true resident British bird, while the Mealy Redpoll should

really be in the migratory class. This question, together with the proper

classification of the Bramble-finch, and sundry matters of the same sort,

will form a subject for the consideration of the British Bird and Mule Club,

after they have settled the question now engaging their attention, namety,

“What is a British cage-bird?”


No. 1643, referred to by Mr. Bonhote as “afine Ortolan Bunting, a

thorough migratory bird,” is catalogued as a Woodlark. I have 110 note in

my catalogue to this number, so I cannot say whether Mr. Bonhote or the

catalogue is correct, but would Mr. Bonhote admit an Ortolan Bunting

as a British bird, migratory or otherwise ? For myself, I think they are not

found sufficiently often in England to justify their inclusion among our

birds at all. I have one myself which I have never shown, thinking it

would not be recognized in the British classes.


Mr. Bonhote, I think, is rather unduly severe upon 1113- Swallow. He

sa}'s it “ has been a Swallow.” I can tell him that it is still very much a

Swallow ; and if he saw it swallow mealworms he would admit it justified

its name. The bird is in perfect health, and so tame that it will feed from

one’s fingers, and I have every hope of successfully moulting him, and of

showing him next year as a cage-moulted Swallow. No one expects to see,

in February, in perfect condition, a Swallow caught the previous Summer.


The Talking Starling specially mentioned by Mr. Marshall, is the

bird which was the subject of an article in the Avicultural Magazine of June,

1S95. He says two or three sentences ver}" distinctly, and I am sorry he did

not make himself “understanded of ” Mr. Marshall. Nevertheless, “Jacob”



