iio Foreign Birds at the London Cage Bird Association's Shozv.


Weaver,” was a fine male specimen of a species of Sperviospiza,

doubtless A. guttata, one of the Blue-billed Weavers, the first we

have seen alive. This was another of Mr. Maxwell’s rarities, as

were also the second prize winners, a pair of Painted Finches

•( Emblema picta). This species won in both this and the class

before, but as it is difficult to say whether it is a “ Waxbill” or a ,j

‘‘Grassfinch” the judge, in our opinion, was quite right in

noticing it in both classes. Probably it is more of a Grassfinch

than a Waxbill, but so is the Crimson-finch and perhaps the

Australian ‘'Waxbill,” which would be more correctly termed, as

the Australians term it, the “ Red-browed Finch.”


The third prize in this class went to Mr. Galloway for his

beautiful pair of the uncommon Scaly-crowned Finches ( Sporo -

pipes squamifrons) ; and there was also shown as perfect a pair of

Pintail Nonpareils as we have ever seen.


In the class for Grosbeaks, True Finches and Buntings

Mrs. E. Galloway obtained first prize with a fine Black-faced

Serin ( Serinus capistratus ) (?) ; Mr. Townsend’s Rock Bunting

(Fringillaria tahapisi) came second, and a Diuca Finch ( Diuca

diuca ) belonging to the same gentleman was third ; while Mr.

Maxwell won fourth place with a cock Cuba Finch:


The Tanagers were a grand lot and competition was very

keen, Mr. Maxwell again won the chief honours, his four ex¬

hibits being placed ist, 2nd, 4th and li.c. These comprised a

Red-tliroated Tanager ( Glossipiila rjtficollis), the first we have

ever seen on the show-bench; a Black-throated, a Spotted

Emerald ( Calliste gzUtaia') and a Maroon. Mr. W. R. Pickles

took the third prize with a Maroon Tanager, while those that

failed to obtain prizes, but were rare and interesting were Mr.

Townsend’s team of Tricolor, White-capped, Archbishop, and

Magpie; Mr. Millsum’s pair of Magpie Tanagers, Mr. Watts’

Olive and two Superbs.


The class for all species of Sugar Birds, Honey-eaters,

etc. contained three specimens, a pair and a single male, of the

Black-faced Sugar-bird ( Chlorophanes spiza ), a well-known South

American species, but one that is almost unknown to avicul-

turists. The pair, which were awarded first prize, belonged to

Mr. Townsend, who informed the writer that they have nested



