6S



was a Very bright and clean bird and in the pink of condition..

A Bearded Tit took second : it was a nice bird, but rather dirty ^

and I was glad to see it noticed. The fourth was a Reed Bunting,

rather a small bird, but in nice summer plumage.


In the A.O.V. larger than a Woodlark, a Cornish Chough,

with bright red legs and bill and in nice feather takes first; a

very good Ring Ousel, second ; and a talking Raven, third. The

fourth prize was given to a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, in good

health and condition, which ought, I think, to have been second.


I hope the authorities will see their way another year to

giving separate classes for Hawfinches, Bramblings, and Missel

Thrushes, as there were several splendid birds of these species

shown.


This year the Nightingale and Blackcap class was remark¬

ably well filled, and the birds were all fine specimens in excellent

condition. 1589 (first), a Nightingale, was a nice bird in good

feather, but rather small. 1591 (the second prize bird), was

larger, but a little bit out of condition. Third prize went to a

very good large Blackcap, while 1599, a fair Nightingale, but

badly shown and with, if I mistake not, part of his tail missing,,

took an extra third. 1585 (fourth prize), a Nightingale, was a

good bird and in better condition than many.


In the A.O.V. migratory bird class a Grey Wagtail, in its

wrong class, gets noticed. The same judge (not the one who

disqualified them in class 100) gave a Grey Wagtail second in the

A.O.V. class (not migratory) at the Aquarium last j^ear. A bird

cannot be in its right place in two classes, and if it was right at

the Aquarium it was wrong here and vice-versa. A Crossbill, a

bird resident in Scotland, was also noticed in this class. A ver} r

good Swallow, in the pink of condition, but wanting his left outer

tail feather, took first. The cage was painted rather too dark

inside. Second was a Willow Wren, a perfedl beauty in every

way, and very bright; third, a Resser Whitethroat, also in very

fine feather; while fourth was a nice bright Redstart, nicely shown.

There were also two very good Redwings, a nice Spotted Fly-

catcher, slightly rough, a good cock Whinchat, a very fair

Shorelark, and a Corncrake, which, I speak feelingly, had severely

hurt itself on the journey.


The show contained many birds of remarkably fine qualit5 r ,

and, with the exceptions above stated, the judging was good.



