The Bird Show at the Horticultural Hall,



93



believe), and an Amethyst-rumped Sun-bird, while Mr. Hawkins

showed a Purple Sun-bird (C. asiatica) and a Black-headed Sugar Bird.


The class for the Shamahs, Bulbuls, etc., had nine entries,

the only uncommon birds being a Red-eared Bulbul and a Dval

or “ Magpie Robin.”


The 1 odds and ends ” class contained three specimens of the

rare Loo Choo Robin ( Erithacus komaclori) a species that is only-

represented in the National Collection by two or three skins, in

second rate condition, of birds that have been in captivity, hut Lady

Kathleen Pilkington, the Hon. Mrs. Bourke and Mr. A. Ezra, all

showed birds the British Museum would be only too glad to possess.

In this class the gem of the show, for rarity, if not for beauty, was

the Blue Niltava ( Xanthopycja cyctnomelcena) of Mr. Astley’s, a bird

found from China to Borneo wherein the sexes differ vastly, the male

being black, deep blue and white, and the female brown and sandy.

Everybody admired this exhibit, which was charmingly tame, hut

which was not easily seen in its deep box cage. Mr. Astley also

showed Indian Brown-backed Robins (not Wrens, as listed) while

the Hon. Mrs. Bourke also showed a Ruby-throated Warbler and a

Minivet ( Perecrocotus hrevirostris) , the first Mini vet of any species

that I ever saw alive. Unfortunately, the red colour, which should

he vermilion, had turned pale in captivity. Mr. Ezra showed a

Japanese Redbreast ( Erithacus akahige). Mr. Maxwell a “Copper¬

smith ” Barbet, a common bird in Calcutta, but a rare one in

London, and Mr. J. Erostick, an Indian Hunting Cissa, which, like

the Minivet, had lost its bright colour by moulting in captivity.


Class 190, “ Pairs for Foreign Hybrid Breeding ” contained :

first, pair of Fire-tailed Finches (C< H. Row) ; second, Sydney and

Violet-eared Waxbills (C. T. Maxwell); third, Russian Goldfinch and

Rose Finch (Carpodacus) , and (C. T. Maxwell) Tricolour and Pretre’s

Tanagers.


The remaining classes for foreign birds (selling and members’

classes) contained a Yellow-rumped Finch—first shown by Mr.

Seth-Smith at the Crystal Palace,—American Nonpareil, Paradise

Whydah (Mrs. Thynne’s), Silver Tana ger, Mr. J. Dewhurst’s African

Coleys and Mr. W. A. Shepherd’s three exhibits of Mynahs, of

species I have not determined.



