8



THE CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW OF OCTOBER, 1898.



INTRODUCTORY.


The Show of British and Foreign Birds, and Hybrids,

held at the Crystal Palace, on the 4th, 5th, and 6th of October,

by the National British Bird and Mule Club and the Foreign

Bird Exhibitors’ League, was a notable event in the history of

Bird Shows, because it marks the emancipation of the exhibiting

aviculturists from the bondage of the Canary “ fancy ” to which

they had hitherto been subject.


The Show was an unqualified success, and reflects great

credit upon Mr. FroSTick, the energetic Hon. Secretary, and

upon the Show Committee. (I think I may say this without

appearing to blow my own trumpet, for, although a member of

the Committee, I must confess that I only attended one meeting).


A remarkable feature was the almost entire absence of

“ wrongly classed ” entries. I could only find one such entry in

the Foreign classes—an unfortunate pair of Bengalese which

had somehow got into Class 65. This proves what can be done

to prevent (by careful drafting of the Schedule, and the kindly

help of the Secretary) what is usually considered an unavoidable

incident of Bird Shows.


It is to be regretted that the classes for common Waxbills

and Grassfinches were so badly filled. These classes are new,

and exhibitors are a curiously conservative race. Probably many

thought that these classes would be over-crowded, and refrained

from making entries in them for that reason. I believe that if

they be repeated next year, the result will be quite different.


Considering the number of Bulbuls which appeared at the

Palace in February, it is singular that the Bulbul class had to be

cancelled at this Show.


Horatio R. Fiixmer.



BRITISH BIRDS.


As regards British birds, it is rather doubtful whether the

commencement of October is the most suitable time to hold a

Show : many being scarcely through the moult by that time and,

therefore, not in show form. This being so, one was almost

surprised to find so large a number of specimens, mostly of

grand quality, staged at Sydenham on the 4th, 5th, and 6th of

the month,.



