120



properly have been entered in it—and I cannot see that the fa< 5 t

of there being a special class for Rare-feathered birds made

any difference. Still, such experienced exhibitors as Mr. S. Cook,

Mr. Storey and Mr. Swaysland agreed with the Judge’s decision,

so that no doubt he had good authority for the course he took.


Class 2 (Bullfinches) contained seven birds. The second

prize-winner, a large bird (hand - reared) was cheap at the

Catalogue price (10/6) and was sold on the second day of the

Show. A bird exhibited by the London Fanciers’ Supply

Association was a most industrious piper, but his musical per¬

formance proclaimed him to be no Britisher.


Class 3 (Linnets, Redpolls and Siskins) was well filled,

containing 19 entries, 7 of which were Siskins, 6 Linnets, 5

Redpolls, and 1 a Twite. All the Redpolls were Mealies. Miss

A. Morgan’s 1st prize Siskin was a magnificent specimen, and

obtained the Special given for the best British bird.


Class 4 (All other species of Finches, Grosbeaks and

Buntings) also contained 19 entries. Here were 6 Hawfinches, 2

Greenfinches, 3 Bramblings, 2 Chaffinches, 2 Crossbills (male

and female), 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Cirl Bunting, 1 Lapland Bunting,

and 1 Ortolan Bunting. The members of the Avicultural

Society were more successful in this class than in the other

British classes, for they secured three of the four prizes. Mr.

Storey’s beautiful Cirl Bunting well deserved its position as first

prize winner.


Class 5 contained 2 Missel Thrushes, 3 Song Thrushes, 2

Blackbirds, and a Ring Ouzel. The first prize Blackbird was a

beauty.


Class 6 (Migratory Birds) contained a Whin chat, a Yellow

Wagtail, a Blackcap, a Pipit, a Shorelark, and 2 Nightingales:

the 1st prize being awarded to Mr. Fulljames’ Yellow Wagtail,

and the 2nd to Mr. S. Cook’s Nightingale. I was surprised that

the 1st prize should have been secured by the Yellow Wagtail, as

I have found that species easier to keep in good condition than

the other species shown, but possibly my experience has been

exceptional. Miss Hopwood’s Whincliat had always been fed

on Gasparin’s food, and certainly did credit to its diet, but I found

by experiment that although it had been fed for months solely on

that food (and mealworms) it preferred egg and ants’ eggs when

it got the choice. The bird was pronounced by competent

judges to be a female.


Class 7 (All species not included in the above). This

Class was of necessity somewhat of a mixture, and contained a



