By A. G. Butter.


The effects of bird-shows upon aviculture are both good and bad ;

they undoubtedly tend to increase the number of bird-lovers by showing

the uninitiated that foreign birds maybe as easily kept as Canaries or Black¬

birds, that their songs are often far more pleasing, and their colours often

infinitely more startling if not actually more beautiful.


At the same time bird-shows have much to answer for, and the main¬

stay of these exhibitions—the Canary—has suffered more from them than

any other species, as I shall presently show.


There can be no doubt whatever that the Canary is as plastic as the

Rock-pigeon ; the forms already produced bv careful selection sufficiently

prove this: the breeders of these birds were doing well in their efforts to

modify its form and feathering, until the judges of the large shows interfered

with their stringent rules and limited the breeders art: now-a-days breeders

of Canaries are content to breed one or more of the few well-known types,

and carefully weed out from their stock every chance modification instead

of encouraging its development into something new and beautiful.


Some years ago I determined to breed a new type of Canary : I pur¬

chased a strong bird, having what breeders call “a bad cap,” tilted behind,

and I paired it with a strong hen : in the next generation I produced one

bird which, had a worse tilt than its father, and I fondly hoped to go on and

produce something very different from the familiar turn-crown of our shows:

unhappily bird-fever was introduced with two 3muug hen birds which I

purchased, and my entire stock was cleaned out that }-ear. Since then, my

greater interest in foreign birds has prevented my making a second attempt :

nevertheless it was evident to me that the varieties of which the Canary is

capable are unlimited by Nature.


The other evils of bird-shows have been clearly pointed out by Messrs.

Cronkshaw and Fillmer, and with no uncertain voice (though, to my mind,

with unnecessary severity) b3>- Mr. Septimus Perkins : the good results are

fairly stated by Mr. Betts. Personally, I only show at the Costal Palace,

taking niv few entries to the building ui3 T self, and seeing they want for

nothing before leaving them to the care of the officials.



THE YELLOW WAGTAIL AS AN AVIARY BIRD.


B3' Septimus Perkins.


On page 44 Dr. Butler has given a most interesting account of

Motaciila rail —these few stray notes are merely intended to be a supplement

to his article.


There are five British species of Wagtail— two of these (the White

Wagtail, and the Grey-headed Wagtail sometimes called the Blue-headed

Yellow Wagtail) are very rare indeed, only a few stragglers being occasion¬

ally seen in this country. Of the remaining three species, one, the Gre3^

Wagtail, is somewhat rare, the other two, the Pied Wagtail and the Yellow

Wagtail, are common. The Pied Wagtail and the Grey Wagtail are resident

birds, the Yellow Wagtail is a summer migrant. The Yellow Wagtail is

considerabl3' smaller than the other two, being onty six inches in length.


The length ofa bird gives one very little idea of its actual bulk, the Yellow

Wagtail and the House Sparrow both measure six inches in length, but

while the House Sparrow is stoutl3 T built, the Yellow Wagtail is extremely

slender, and its weight is probably not more than half that of the Sparrow.

As it walks nimbly but delieateh 7 over the floor of the aviar3 r , the Yellow

Wagtail shows off its graceful proportions to the best advantage. Hudson

trul3’ describes it as “ a sweet and dainty creature,” and Seebohm says “ Its

abtive sylph-like movements, and its delicate form and lovely plumage,

make it a general favourite.”



