15


[My experience, and that of other amateur exhibitors, does not bear

out Mr. Perkins’ theoretical objections. I maintain that we are not less

careful of the health and comfort of our birds than is the non-exhibitor. I

have of course no apology to offer for the professional exhibitor, who sends

his birds from one show to another throughout the season, simply and solely

as a matter of profit.


The cruelty involved in the importation of birds must, I think, have

caused some uncomfortable thoughts to most of us. I cannot for one

moment admit the argument that we as aviculturists are not responsible for

this, for it is evident that if we did not create the demand for foreign birds,

the supply would very soon cease. My own position is logical, because I hold

that we have rights over the lower animals, as well as responsibilites towards

them. But, if I understand Mr. Perkins rightly, he thinks it justifiable to

import birds from foreign countries at the cost of much suffering and many

deaths, but unjustifiable to expose them to the short journey and very slight

risk incidental to a well conducted show.—C. S. Simpson.]



Sir, —Under the heading, “The Ethics of Exhibiting,” a very

interesting subject has been started in the Avicultural Magazine. Most of

the writers on this subjeCt in the September number deprecate the showing

of birds, and I am in some respects in accord with the sentiments expressed.

Englishmen, however, are essentially sportsmen; and, whether the} 7 own

yachts, animals of any kind from race-horses to fancy mice, or British or

Foreign birds, or, in fadt, are able in an} 7 way to compete with their fellows,

they are possessed by a healthy spirit of combativeness which prompts

them to endeavour to excel, each in his own particular line.


Competition is good for everyone: even the defeated learn something.


It is exceedingly unfortunate that we exhibitors of foreign birds are

so heavily handicapped. In the first place, our pets cannot bear the

knocking about which such live-stock as fowls, rabbits, and cats can

endure with impunity: and this important fact is quite beyond the

comprehension of the average helper at bird shows. Hence the paramount

necessity of personally accompanying one’s exhibits. To a recent show, I

took six cages of foreign birds. On arrival at the station, from which the

show was distant about a mile, I found no arrangements whatever made by

the Show Committee to meet the trains with covered vans. The porters

were all too bus} 7 to take m3 7 birds, and I had to wait on the platform in a

cutting wind, while a bo} 7 fetched me a cab from somewhere in the town. I

wonder when and how my birds would have been delivered if they had

been unaccompanied ?


Granted the safe arrival of our exhibits, we are met with the

extraordiuar} 7 fact that we have, in most cases, to submit them to the

discrimination of a bagman-judge, who undertakes such classes as poultry,

pigeons, rabbits, cats, cavies, fancy rats and mice, and foreign cage-birds.

The foreign cage-birds are put into his day’s work as a kind of make¬

weight.


At the show above referred to, the judge (whom I know as an

excellent judge of cats) had to adjudicate upon 322 pigeons in 28 classes;

207 Rabbits in 22 classes; 11 Cavies; 27 Canaries in 3 classes; and 13

foreign birds in 2 classes. It is a mercy there were no cats, rats, or mice.

The 180 dogs at the same show had five judges and a special secretary all

to themselves!



