86


crested Touracou (wliich was in much better plumage, in spite

of the quantities of sawdust which it was fed upon) {a) : altogether,.

I quite approved of the judging in this Class, and felt inclined to

pat my instructor upon the back (which is the way of the world

when the judgment of the pupil chimes in with that of his

preceptor).


Class 129. — A Mixed SeIvUng-CIvAss.


I should have given a prize to Mr. Fulljames' Madagascar

Weaver in breeding plumage, in preference to the not very grand

pair of Zebra-finches which took fifth prize, and I should have

preferred No. 2,074 to 2,076 (fourth prize), which struck me as-

not being quite up to the mark : otherwise I was satisfied.



NOTES ON SOME OF THE FOREIGN BIRDS


(other than parrots)


AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW.


By H. R. FiLivMER.


The placing of the Class for " Any variety of European

Bird not included in the N. B. B. and M. C. List," in the British

Secftion is one of those things which, I suppose, only a "fancier"'

can understand, a mere aviculturist certainly cannot. The Class

declares itself to be for non-British birds, and j^et it is a British-

bird Class ! But let that pass. There were good birds in

this Class, and Mr. Maxwell's Blue-throated Warbler was

deservedly first. Mr. Russell Humphrys' Rose-coloured Pastor

was second, and Mr. Fulljames' Blue Rock Thrush and Barred

Warbler respectively third and fourth. The Class also contained

three Waxwings, two Ortolan Buntings, a Crested Lark, a Pied

Rock Thrush, and another Blue Rock Thrush (decidedly inferior

to the prize-winner). It was a most interesting colledtion of

birds, and no fault could, I think, be found with the judging.


There were no less than five pairs of Parrot Finches, none

however in really perfect condition. These birds moult twice in the

year, and are usually a long time over it, so that they are moult-

ing during a large part of each year — this makes them very

trying birds to the exhibitor. There was besides a Three-coloured

Parrot Finch (^ErytJmira trichiva) a rarer but, to my thinking, a

less beautiful species.


Passing over the Java Sparrows (about which there is


(a) I cannot understand why fruit-eating' birds are expected to digest sawdust,

I should almost as soon mix tintacks with their food : sand or earth in the tray would

be far better.— A. G. B.



