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quaint Australian Wood-swallows, a pair of Australian Bell-

birds, a Dyal, and an interesting little pair of Mannikins, which

seemed oddly out of place in the class : they were described as

Striated-finch Bengalese hybrids. My own belief has always

been that the Bengalese is an Albino variety of the Striated-

finch. _


By D. Skth-Smith, F.Z.S.


This Show was held by the British Bird and Mule Club in

the Balliam Assembly Rooms, on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of Nov.,

and so far as the quality of the exhibits went, could hardly have

been excelled.


In the following brief notes I don’t intend to criticize the

judging; but rather to say a few words about the birds that

appeared to me to be of especial interest to aviculturists.


I have nothing to say about the commoner British birds,

but in Class 9 there were one or two specimens of some interest.

Here were two Ortolans and a Serin (I don’t know why they

were allowed in a “ British ” Class, but that is not my business

now), and two good Crossbills, as well as, of course, many

commoner kinds. In another class two good Choughs were

worthy of notice.


The class for Pied, Albino, or other rare freaks, contained

some interesting exhibits, amongst which were an albino Black¬

bird, a black Bullfinch, a white House-Sparrow, a white Linnet,

and Mr. Fulljames’ Cinnamon Starling, which must be getting

used to Bird Shows by now. In the catalogue I notice that a

white Hedge Accentor is mentioned, but I evidently overlooked

it: if it was the same bird that was shewn at the recent Crystal

Palace Show, it was well worth seeing.


There were some interesting exhibits in the class for

resident insectivorous British birds; amongst which may be

mentioned two particularly nice Stonechats, a Marsh-tit, two

Long-tailed Tits—one of which belonged to the white-headed

race, which is not British, and a Crested Tit, whose British origin

I also much doubt. Two Greater-spotted Woodpeckers were

shewn. By the way, when are we to see the Lesser-spotted

Woodpecker on the Show-bench ? It should not be difficult to

keep.


There were some nice Whinchats in Class 21, a good

Spotted Fly-catcher, a Chiff-chaff, and a very large Wheatear;

but the most interesting bird was undoubtedly a Black Redstart—

I question, though, whether it should not have been in the class



