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The great majority of the birds were in excellent condition

and health, and the exhibits were on the whole of greater interest

than last year.


Perhaps the most difficult birds to judge fairly are the

Gouldiau finches: they appear to be more upset by a journey

than any other birds and rarely show to advantage on the judg¬

ing day: it would have been difficult, however, to beat the first

and second prize winners in class 105 : Mr. Fulljames’ Parrot

finch was unfortunately moulting. An interesting exhibit was

Mr. Housden’s bird in class 107, which, I think, was a hen

Yellowish Weaver (Sitagrci luteold). Mr. Swaysland’s exhibit

(1042), which was in the winter plumage, was probably Penthetria

fiaviscapularis. A very nice Pin-tailed Whydah (1043) in full

colour, was hopelessfy crippled.


The Rufous-tailed Grassfinch, a species which made its

debtct last year, was remarkably well represented, no less than

four good pairs being exhibited : Mr. Dewar’s pair were far and

away the best, and were indeed the finest specimens I have seen.


Miss Sturt’s Cordons-bleus, five years in their owner’s

possession, were in exquisite trim and spoke w^ell for her

care and skill: the Cordon-bleu is not a very easy bird to keep

in first-rate condition. A beautiful pair of Da vender finches

were well shown. A pair of the rare Rufous-backed Mannikins

were not in the best of plumage, or would have taken a higher

position. The Goldfinches and Bullfinches were, on the whole,

hardly up to the average, many being loose in feather, possibly

due to the very mild weather.


There were no Saffron-finches, Serin-finches, or Alarios.

Mr. Castellan’s Black-headed Siskin was a beauty. A splendid

pair of White-breasted Mannikins {Mztnia pectoralis ) were, most

unfortunately, exhibited in the wrong class. Surely so ex¬

perienced an aviculturist as Mr. Dewar might have avoided this

mistake. There was an unusually large number of Doves : the

Columbidae are not a popular family with aviculturists and are

poorly represented at shows as a rule. Perhaps the most

interesting exhibit was an Australian Green-winged Dove, sent

by Mr. Seth-Smith. Visitors who, guided by the catalogue,

expedted to see Mr. Arthur’s Blue-winged Green Bulbul, must

have been disappointed to meet with a Superb Tanager: a good

bird which, evidently suffering from the effedts of its journey on

Friday, looked much better on Saturday.


Mr. Housden exhibited a magnificent pair of Red-vented

Bulbuls, and a Scarlet Tanager, the latter not so rich in colour as



