8i


The Skylarks and Robins were two very ordinary classes.

Messrs. Killbury's old champion Skylai'k was easily first, and this

for the sixth year in succession ; next to it I should have placed

1,634, which had to be content with a V. H. C. None of the

Robins were up to show standard ; the winner was a goodly

shaped specimen, but by no means a bright one.


Blackbirds come next, and we are again treated to a sight

of some superb specimens. Messrs. Hobbs' bird (first) was

wonderfully steady, and had a beautiful eye cere ; while next to

it was Mr. Morgan's (1,672, V. H. C), with an ideally shaped

head and intense blackness of body feather.


In the Thrush class old birds were conspicuous by their

absence. Clean-legged, racy, up-standing young birds comprised

the bulk of this class, and a better lot of Thrushes have probably

never been staged ; some grandly marked birds were not awarded

prizes, but the judge had a by no means easy task.


In the Starling class we were again brought face to face

with old friends, and once more " talent " has had to give way to

" appearances." The birds catalogued as " talkers," or otherwise

accomplished, were absolutely unnoticed by the judge ; the first

prize bird was a particularly well marked bird, full of "work,"

and, to my mind, 1,703 V.H.C., might have been second. 1,720

was Mr. FuUjames' "Jacob," who had a deal to say, but I am

sorry to say failed to make himself " understanded of me."


Class 107 for Magpies, Jackdaws, Jays, and Choughs was a

very small one, but all the birds were in a first rate condition. I

thought 1,723 V. H. C. a better and smarter Pie than the winner

1,724, which seemed dull and listless. Mr. Fulljames' and Mr.

Gibbons' Choughs (1,729 second, and 1,725 V. H. C.) were really

beautiful exhibits.


One of the most interesting classes in the whole show

was that for Pied birds and Albinos, and in this class were

some charming specimens : notably, 1,732, a Cinnamon Yellow-

hammer (unnoticed), and 1,742, an Albino Skylark (V. H. C),

small, and undoubtedly a hen, but a true Albino with pink eyes.

Mr. Fulljames' Cinnamon Starling was in grand condition, and

was deservedly first in a class most difficult to judge. Two birds

in this class well worthy of mention were Mr. Swailes' Yellow

Greenfinch, 1,731, and Mr. Hay's White Greenfinch, 1,738, both

of which were good exhibits and very uncommon.


Of the resident insectivorous birds not larger than a

Woodlark there is little to be said. Mr. Staines' Stonechat

and Mr. Poynter's Jenny Wren were first and second, and I was



