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Of the British birds I did not take mucli notice, for I did

not know that I sliould have to write about them ; and I spent

most of my time — all too little — among the foreigners ; however,

as our Hun. Secretary proposes writing about the latter, for the

sufficient reason that he had not time to look at the former at all,

I must just do my best.


For many years of my life I studied British birds in their

natural haunts, and likewise as pets — I lived among the birds.

As pets, some are incomparable ; but pets are one thing,

common species as show-birds quite and altogether another.

Then some that are beautiful when wild are comparatively

despicable as show-birds. What more beautiful in the wild state

than a pair of Bullfinches and the male Blackbird ! but over the

dowdy creatures at a show I cannot get up any interest. And

concerning those that do not materially lose their colours : I

would infinitely rather see them in the fields and pastures.


The Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Linnet, Siskin Redpoll and Twite,

classes I "passed by on the other side." It is curious that in

class 87, " Any other variety of Finch or Bunting," although I

simply strolled down the line without a thought of awards (for I

went to look at the birds, not to criticise the judging), only five

caught my eye, and I now observe that four of these gained the

first four prizes. I admired Mr. Raine's Hawfinch as much as I

condemned its owner for placing such a comparatively large bird

in so small a cage. Miss Benbow came second with a large,

tight, not very bright. Greenfinch, a bird always associated in

my mind with supper for the many Hawks of my early days. Mr.

LfOtt came next with a very large Chaffinch, and Mr. Allen fourth

with a nice Snow Bunting. I have a note of faint praise against

Mr. Jones' Reed Bunting, which probably I looked at as being

less common than the majority of the very common birds of

which the class was composed.


Against only one bird in the Lark class have I a note —

against Mr. and Mrs. Vincent's young Wood Lark, a very

favourite bird of mine, and always interesting as being the onlj^

bird in this country that sings on the wing at night. I dare

say the Blackbirds, Starlings, and Thrushes in class 89 were all

right— indeed, I am convinced that they must have been ; but

somehow against only one of the whole lot have I a note, against

Mr. Kneen's well marked Thrush (2nd) ; nevertheless I am

rather suspicious of the Show Thrush, as it is a bird not always

innocent of colour-food. Classes 90 and 96 (Migratory, and

small Inse(ftivorous) were more interesting ; the former con-



