i6


wrongly. Moreover, very special inducements were held out to

those aviculturists who are unable to keep rare and costly birds,

by providing a number of classes limited to the common and

cheap species. Now we hear a great many complaints about the

impossibility of the smaller aviculturists competing with the

owners of big and costly collections, and about the iniquity of

the latter in “ sweeping the board” at all the Shows : here was

an opportunity for the grumblers—special classes for the common

Waxbills, the common Grassfiuclies and the Mannikins, and

prize money equal to that offered in the classes for rare birds.

What was the result ? In each of these classes the number of

entries was very small, and the birds by no means equal in con¬

dition to those exhibited in the classes for rare birds. It seems

unlikely that the Committee will consider it worth their while

to provide these classes at any future Show.


In Class 49 (Weavers and Whydahs) the most striking

exhibit was a large cage containing a flock of Paradise Whydahs,

all male birds in full breeding plumage. Such a spectacle alone

was well worth a journey to the Palace. The most uncommon

bird in the class (and probably in the Show) was No. 566, named

by the owner, Mr. Fulljames, a “Pong-tailed Combasou,” and

which might be described as a Combasou with a tail of a

Whydah, but the beak was black, not yellow like that of a

Combasou. There were several excellent Paradise Whydahs,

only one of which (No. 569) was accompanied by a female. A

pair of birds, where the sexes differ, makes a far more interesting

and valuable exhibit than a single bird. There were several

Pintailed Whydahs, most of which were exceedingly timid and

wild ; while all their brethren of the Paradise species were steady

and placid. A rare Weaver, sent by Mr. Swaysland, was, I think,

a specimen of the Yellowish Weaver. A Chera procne, sent by

Mr. Housden, was in poor condition. Two of the rare Crimson-

banded or Cut-throat Whydahs were exhibited, neither of

which was in first-rate trim. There were some good Orange,

Oryx, Crimson-crowned and Madagascar Weavers, and a very

nice pair of Combasous.


Class 50 was one of the disappointments : it was limited to

the commoner Waxbills and had only eight entries, one of

which was absent. No. 574 was a nice brightly-coloured pair of

Zebra Waxbills, and 580 a good pair of Orange-cheeks. There

was one entry of St. Helenas (which appeared to be both cocks),

one Avadavat, and no Grey Waxbills.


Class 51 was splendid. Three specimens of the Red-faced

Finch (.Pytelia afro), a male and two females, were contributed



