6 7


The Blackbird Class, 94, and Thrush Class, 95, were of

splendid quality throughout, and were rightly judged, except

that 1465 ought to have been noticed.


The Starlings were rather dull in colour, and on this score

1478 had to give way to 1474, which was the better bird.


In the Magpie Class 1488 was the best, and was a remark¬

ably large bird. 1490, a Jay, was large and nicely shown, though

not very bright. 1494, a Magpie, was rather small, but other¬

wise a neat, cleanly cut bird.


The Hybrids formed a nice, though by no means remark¬

able class. No. 1502 (first), a Greenfinch-Bullfinch was a good

bird with a nice red rump and breast and a brown head. 1503

(2nd), a Tinnet-Bullfinch, ran it close, but was not such a good

colour. 1500 (3rd), a Goldfinch-Bullfinch, with a white head,

ought not I think to have been noticed. 1499 was much better,

being brighter in colour, and having a ring of red stretching

partly round the neck.


The Pied or Albino Class brought out some splendid birds,

although in a few cases it was hard to see what right the bird had in

the class. The pure Albino Blackbird took first prize, and was in

splendid trim ; I suppose the pink eyes gave it its place, for 1525,

a White Hawfinch, is a far rarer bird, and was in equally good

feather. 1520, a Silver-grey Starling, well deserved its place

(second). It was of a delicate silver grey all over, but retained all

its markings. 1518, a White Blackbird, dirtjr and badly shown,,

took fourth, which place should, I think, have been given to

1516, a very nice specimen of a pied Goldfinch, showing a good

deal of white.


Class 100. A.O.V. British Bird not larger than a Wood¬

lark, was made into a sad mess. To start with, three Grey

Wagtails were marked “wrong class.” Why ? The Grey

Wagtail is to be found in some parts of the British Isles all the

year round. To make matters worse, the same judge gave a

Gre}^ Wagtail first, and another one V.H.C., in precisely the same

class at last year’s show. Then, again, we find six Brambliugs,

which are truly migratory birds, being only winter visitants to

this country, not marked “wrong class,” and actually taking-

prizes. No. 1540 also, a Tree Pipit, is a migratory bird, and

should also have been marked “ wrong class.” Of the Grey

Wagtails, 1532 was the best, being a splendidly long and slim

bird. 1555 was also' in excellent condition. I sympathise

deeply with those gentlemen who were wrongly disqualified.

The first prize was taken by a Golden Crested Wren, which



