Ill



PARROTS AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE.


By the Hon. and Rev. F. G. Dutton.


I suppose it would not be very easy to get up a really

good Show of Foreign Birds at any time, but when the most

inclement week of the most inclement month of the year is

chosen, and, in addition, the first of altogether insignificant

prizes is withheld, unless there are a certain number of entries,

then no condition which would ensure failure has been forgotten.

Were it not for one or two public-spirited exhibitors who live

near the Palace, the show of Parrots would not be worth the

trouble of going even from London to see.


These conditions operate more heavily against the Parrots,

because they are more valuable, are very often pets, and are more

expensive as to carriage.


Yet Budgerigars, which come first in the Parrot classes,

might be more numerous : for they are hardy, and are bred with

greater ease than Canaries. Here a decent prize list might

produce a good entry. Eleven entries cannot fairly represent

the numbers that must be bred annually in England. The third-

prize pair was the only entry calling for any especial remark.

These were good in colour and distinct in marking. What was

the secret of the wonderful colour Messrs. Mackley attained

some years ago in the Budgerigars they exhibited ? I have

never again seen such intense green as that. What are called

Yellow Budgerigars ought not to be mentioned unless they have

a class to themselves ; they aie quite out of place in a class for

ordinary Budgerigars.


It is curious that no Rosellas were exhibited. There were

two pairs of large Pennants, and one Mealy Rosella. The

Pennants were fine but rather lacked lustre.


The class for Kings and Crimson-wings had three speci¬

mens : two Crimson-wings—of which Mr. Smith’s specimen was

the most brilliant—and a Queen.


The next class, for single Parrakeets, brought together an

interesting variety. Mr. Fulljames took ist with his Alexandra

Parrakeet, and I presume Mrs. Astrop took 2nd with her Pileated

Parrakeet, which ought to have had equal ist. Mr. Fulljames’

bird is a marvel of successful aviculture, but the Pileated

Parrakeet is as rare and quite as faultlessly shown.


The other birds were a good Rock Parrakeet; a cock Red-



