83


Comparing the wliole show with many of its predecessors

the quality and condition of the exhibits were strikingly superior,

and exhibitors generally seem to be acquiring a predilection for

■only such birds as are more or less difficult to keep, and the

.absence of Ja^^s, Twites, Snow, Lapland, and Corn Buntings,

Tree and Reed Sparrows bears out my remark.



SMALL FOREIGN BIRDS AND DOVES AT THE


CRYSTAL PALACE.


By A. G. Butler, Ph.D.


The show of small foreigners (but especially of soft-food

■eaters) was exceptionally fine this year, so that the task of

judging must have been unusally heavy ; it is therefore not at

all surprising that not a few exhibitors are dissatisfied, and (in

some cases) I think, with reason : nevertheless every judge must

he guided by his own opinion ; and if, in certain classes, he

■elects to regard perfect plumage of greater importance than

rariti^ there is no law to prevent his doing so.


The names given to the birds in many classes were less

accurate than they usuallj^ are (which is saying a good deal),

perhaps one of the most comical things being the substitution of

a Ring-ouzel for a Peewit in the British Classes.


Class 115. — GOULDIAN FiNCHEt', ETC.


The first prize was given to Mr. E. Grifiith's male Red-

headed Gouldian, which was perfect in plumage though, if rarity

;had been taken into consideration, Mr. Maxwell's Three-coloured

Parrot-finch (though not perfect in feathering) must have stood

£rst ; it was however not noticed. The second prize went to a

"very good pair of tj'pical Parrot-finches exhibited by Mr. H. B.

Smith ; the third to Mr. Maxwell's pair of Gouldian's, fourth to

a good cock Black-head exhibited by Mrs. H. W. Wickens, and

the fifth to Mr. Maxwell's cock Pin-tailed Nonpareil (entered as

£L pair). («)


Class 116. — Java Sparrows.


A very beautiful white pair, exhibited in too small a cage

by Mr. C. G. Knowles, carried off the first prize ; whilst Mr.

H. B. Smith's birds took the second and third prizes. I had so

few Greys to choose from this year, most of my last year's young

birds having been imperfect white specimens, that I stood little

■chance of a card.


(a) Possibly the heu may have died during the show.^A.G.B.



