75



Class 112 (any species of True Fine'll, Bunting, or Gros¬

beak, not previously mentioned). This was a most disappoint¬

ing class. There were only 9 entries, and no less than 4 of these

were in “ wrong class.”' Where were all the Singing Finches,

Alario Finches, and Saffron Finches (not to mention rarer birds),

wdiich I expedted to see in this class ? The first prize was

awarded to Mr. Castellan’s beautiful Black-headed Siskin, which

he informed me was the same bird as that exhibited last year at

the Palace by a dealer, and upon the then shabby condition of

which I remarked in my notes on the show. Miss J. E. Sturt

received the second prize for her pair of Nonpareils—these were

in beautiful condition, but the cock had no trace of red or orange

in his plumage — I think they must have been hand-reared

birds. The third prize was awarded to Mr. Housdeu’s South

American Grosbeak, which I took to be a specimen of Gitiraca

cyanea. It was in splendid condition. The fourth prize was

withheld, so the rarity exhibited by Mr. Swaysland received

only H.C.—what that little bird is no one at the show appeared

to know, and I cannot even guess. Of the birds entered in this

class by mistake, some were worthy of note, viz.: a pair of Red¬

headed Finches, exhibited by Mr. H. B. Smith (not in good

plumage), and a pair of Munia pectoralis exhibited by Mr. Dewar.

Gould named the latter bird Donacola pectoralis, but I should like

to know Mr. Dewar’s authorit}’ for calling it Estrelda pectoralis.


On the whole, the show of Foreign Finches was some¬

what disappointing. Mr. Swaysland’s Weaver and Mr. Davis’s

Cardinal were rare birds, but not very attractive, and this year’s

show does not compare well with last year’s, when the eyes of

many of us were gladdened with the first sight of Bathilda

ruficauda , Spermestes nigriceps, and Munia pectoralis.


From the social point of view, however, the usefulness of

the Palace Show was well maintained, and once again it was the

meeting-place of many aviculturists who have no chance of

of meeting eleswhere.



CORRESPONDENCE.



THE SLENDER - BILE COCKATOO AT THE

CRYSTAL PALACE.


Sir, — I was not at the Crystal Palace Show, hut I have been amusing

myself by looking through a catalogue. I am surprised to see that a

Slender-bill Cockatoo, entered in the class for “Any other variety of Parrot,”

was marked wrong class, while a Macaw in the same class was V.H.C.

I presume that the Judge thought the Slender-bill ought to have been



