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courtesy, and the prize went to a Redpoll with a small patch of

white on the back of his head.


Class 34 (Collections of not less than 4 birds). Mr.

Swaysland obtained the prize for “ Six Mixed Foreign ”—they

were certainly very mixed. He also sent six Weavers and six

Canaries. Mr. Storey showed five Cordon Bleus, which were

unfortunately somewhat affedted by the cold of the night before

the judging, otherwise they would no doubt have been the prize

winners.


I11 the Gift Class Mr. Gale’s Canary was first and Mr.

Storey’s Starling second. There was a pretty Blossom-headed

Parrakeet given by Mr. O’Reilly, and there were three entries of

small Foreign Birds.


The special prize for “ most points throughout the Show ”

was won by Mr. Swaysland, who obtained a few points more

than Mr. Fulljames. But for the unlucky mistake about the

Rufous-backed Mannikin, and the entry of the Masked Finch

in the wrong class, Mr. Fulljames would undoubtedly have

won this prize.


REVIEWS.


Foreign Finches in Captivity , by A. G. Butler , Ph.D., etc.


(L. Reeve & Co.J Parts VII. & VIII.


This valuable work is approaching its conclusion. The

parts now under consideration conclude the description of

the Grassfinches, deal with the Mannikins, and commence

the Whvdahs. Illustrations are given of the male Bicheno’s and

Cherry finches: we wish that it had been possible in all cases

where the sexes differ to illustrate both. In the case of the

Silverbills the difference could hardly have been shewn on paper.

An acute observation of Mr. Abrahams’ referring to the Silver-

bills, but which may be extended to a good many other species

where the sexes are very much alike, is that “ in trying to dis¬

tinguish the sexes of a pair of this bird, it is only the first

glance that enables you to appreciate the difference, for if you

gaze at them for a little time, so much are they alike, that you

cannot tell one from the other.”


Dr. Butler regards the Bengalee as a cross between the

Striated Finch and the Indian Silver-bill. The resemblance to

Uroloncha striata is, of course, very obvious, but we must confess

that the hybrid theory appears to us rather far-fetched.


The Sharp-tailed and Striated Finches, the three varieties

of the Spice Bird, and the Chestnut andThree-coloured Mannikins



