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which it was not. It was a specimen of the Chrysotis Antumnalis, a very

beautiful bird, much resembling the Diademed, but with yellow cheeks.

Third prize was awarded to a good Double-fronted; and Mr. H. B. Smith

took fourth, with a Mealy. The remaining birds were Double-fronted and

Blue-fronted.


Class 125, (Elecins Parrots ) had five entries, all of which were present

and all were males or females of the Grand Electus. As there may still

exist some doubts as to the differences between the sexes of these parrots,

let me say that repeated dissections have shewn conclusively that the male

of each species of Electus is green, and the female, red. The first prize

was won by a fine female belonging to the Rev. J. W. A. Mackenzie;

second, Mr. F. Bellamy; third, Mr. Swaysland.


CLASS 126, (Any other variety Parrot) had six entries; but only three

put in an appearance. Since Macaws are by custom exhibited in this class,

Mr. Storey’s Illiger’s Macaw well deserved its place; being in admirable

plumage. Second prize was taken by Mr. Smith’s Red and Blue Macaw, in

a hideous and uncomfortable cage. The same exhibitor’s little parrot

was probably an immature Senegal. No. 1980, marked “absent,” by a

misprint in the catalogue, was an Amazon, and therefore in the wrong class.


There were only six Cockatoos entered in the two classes provided.

Cockatoos require strong cages, which are heavy and expensive to send

by rail, and the prizes in these classes are not large enough to attract

good classes.Mr. C. Martin's Leadbeater, which took first in class 127, was

a fine bird and deserved his position. Mr. Babb’s Rose-breasted was very

poor in colour, and the third entry in this class was absent.


I11 class 128, Mr. J. B. Housden took first prize with a Slenderbill,

which has taken a prize at the Palace every year since 1S90. Mr. Bellamy

was second with a very good Lemon-crest; and another bird of this species,

exhibited by the Rev.J.W. A. Mackenzie, was H.C. It might bean advantage

if Cockatoos could be exhibited in pairs. I should be disposed, indeed, to

go further, and throw open all, or nearly all, the Foreign classes, to

birds “singly or in pairs.” At present, the fortunate possessor of a blue

Budgerigar or a single specimen of the rarest Waxbill in existence, would

be unable to exhibit his treasure; while the equally happy owner of a pair

of Ornate Lorikeets, can only exhibit them in separate cages.



RARE FOREIGN BIRDS.


V.


THE VIOLET TANAGER.


By V. Castkllan.


As this is the first time that the Tanager family (Tanagrulcei has been

mentioned in our Magazine, it may not be out of place to sa}' a few words

about its classification.


According to Dr. Sclater, “ a Tanager is a dentirostral Finch ; that is,

a bird which, having all the essential characters of the Finch, is yet so far

modified, as regards certain parts of its structure, as to fit it for feeding, not

on grains and seeds, which are the usual food of the Friugillidse, but on soft

fruits and insects, the habitual food of the Sylviadae” (Warblers). They,

therefore, are intermediate between the Finches and the Warblers. The

strong massive bill and the open cup-shape nests they build are true signs

of their close relation to Finches.


From these general remarks on the Tanagridee I will proceed to

describe more minutely the subject of my article, namely, the Violet

Tanager (Euphonia Violacea).


He is one of the smallest of the Tanagers, being about the size of our

English Siskin, and also one of the less brilliantly coloured. The back is

dark shining violet and the underside orange-yellow, with a frontlet of the



