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that in the majority of cases are not even caught until after the receipt of

their orders, and which will most probably not even reach them alive.


VARET.



BIRDS AT BAZAARS.


Sir,—M r. Fillmer kindly mentions my name as first providing a

Bird Show as an attraction to a. Bazaar. I have sent my collection to

several local Bazaars and Flower Shows, as an additional attraction ; on

several occasions over 1,000 persons have paid for admission (to see the

birds, in addition to other charges). I have always been struck b}' the

attraction that live foreign birds have for all classes, from Royalty down¬

wards. Last month I lent them to a Bazaar in Kent (some miles from my

home) in aid of the Re-endowment Fund of Guy’s Hospital—this Bazaar was

opened by H.R.H. the Duchess of Albany, to whom I had the pleasure of

explaining all the birds on view. In addition to raising large sums in this

way for local and other charities, I think the interest in foreign birds is

extended by this means ; only since this last Bazaar several ladies have

written asking information respecting foreign bird keeping.


In writing of Class 18, at the recent Brighton Bird Show, Mr. Fillmer

says, “The first prize went, as a matter of course, to Mr. Housden’s

celebrated pair of Australian Crested Doves, shown, or rather concealed

from view, in an awkward wicker cage.” This is not quite correct: I

entered my prize-winners ; but just before the show, I was having my

aviaries painted, and the cock bird escaped into the newly-painted aviary—

the result was that it would have passed for a Green-crested Dove; the pair

sent was a pair of their last year’s young, almost as fine as the parent birds,

although not quite so tame.


Respecting the Yellowish Weaver fSitagra luteola), shown in Class 19,

I certainly think with Mr. Fillmer that it was a true Weaver. Its ways and

note were very similiar to those of the other Weavers in the aviary. I am

sorry to say it died shortly after coming back from the show.


I had the misfortune to have a visit paid me by some very un¬

welcome visitors a few nights since, my aviary being broken into by

thieves ; they lowered themselves through one of the sky-lights into the

aviary, a distance of 15 feet; the worst part of it was that, in addition to a

number of birds being stolen, several aviary doors were left open, also the

skylight, consequently many escaped before I discovered that the aviary

had been broken into. A number were flying about in my garden, and Dr.

Butler informs me he saw two in his garden, some distance away.* A

few days after three young men were arrested in the neighbourhood for

burglary, who proved to be the thieves—it is some satisfaction to know

who the thieves were, although I only succeeded in tracing three of the

stolen birds, and recapturing one of those that escaped.


James B. Housden.



* I do not believe that the birds which I caught a glimpse of, but

could not see distinctly enough to recognize, were from Mr. Housden’s

avairies, the song (of one at any rate) was new to me, that of the other

was suspiciously like the late song of the Blackcap.



A. G. B.



