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Sparrow ? Although sorry to differ from Mr. Abrahams, I incline

to the opinion that it is a Weaver: for I cannot identify it with

any species of Sparrow. Mr. Swaysland’s Whydah, which

obtained the 3rd prize, was catalogued as a Yellow-shouldered

Whydah ; but it was so out of colour that it was difficult to

identify; it appeared, moreover, to be badly crippled. Mr.

Swaysland also exhibited a Pin - tailed Whydah and an Oryx

Weaver.


Class 20 (Gouldian Finches) contained 5 entries, but the

only bird which put in an appearance was a single cock of the

Black-headed sort, and he felt his loneliness so acutety that he

soon drowned himself in his water-tin. The prize was withheld.


Class 21 (Waxbills and Grassfinclies). Eleven entries,

one absent. Here all the entries but two belonged to Mr.

Fulljames, who obtained 1st for his Sydney Waxbill, and 2nd for

his African Fire Finch. He also exhibited a pair of St. Helena

Waxbills, a female Crimson Finch, a Cherry Finch, a Lavender

Finch, and a pair of Parson Finches. Mrs. W. A. Hammond’s

fine Parson Finches received the 3rd prize, the only other

exhibit being a poor pair of Diamond Sparrows.


Class 22 (Java Sparrows) contained 6 entries, but no less

than 4 were absent. Neither of the entries which put in an

appearance was of much merit.


Class 23 (Mannikins). Nine entries. Mr. Fulljames had,

through an unfortunate accident, sent a specimen of the common

Bronze Mannikin along with one of his rare Rufous - backed

Mannikins, instead of the other of the pair of Rufous-backs:

consequently the exhibit was disqualified. He exhibited besides

a pair of Bronze Mannikins ; a pair of Three-coloured Nuns,

which received 2nd; a specimen of the rare Masked Finch,

which, being a Grass-finch, should have been in Class 21, but

which received a special prize ; a pair of Chestnut Finches ; and

a pair of Nutmeg Finches. Mr. Maxwell’s Munia pcctoralis was

1 st, and the L. F. Suppty Association’s Chestnut Finches 3rd. The

only other entry was another pair of Chestnut Finches. It was

strange that the 1st prize winner should have been catalogued as

Estrelda pectoralis , for the owner must have known that the bird

is a Mannikin or he would not have entered it in a Mannikin

Class, and if a Mannikin, how Estrelda ?


Class 24 (Grosbeaks, True Finches, and Buntings). Eight

entries, one absent. Mrs. W. A. Hammond’s lovely Indigo

Bunting was easily first, being an unusually brilliant specimen.

Miss Jackson’s Green Cardinals were 2nd. Miss Jackson’s



