Stray Notes. 151


Alario and domestic Canary, a bird which should not have been

admitted in a class intended for hybrids between two foreign

birds, for the domestic Canary cannot be admitted under this

category. A Bicheno Zebra-finch was sent by Mr. Hawkins

(v.h.C), and there was also a Long-tailed and Masked Grass-

finch hybrid (h.c). D. S-S.



STRAY NOTES.



A striking feature of the recent Bird Show at the Crystal Palace was-

the number of obviously foreign birds shown in the British classes and not

disqualified by the judges. In the Bunting class there were no less than

five Meadow Buntings (Emberiza cia), a species with a very frail claim to

the British list. A single example is said to have been captured in Sussex

in October 1902 which was identified by Dr. Bowdle rSharpe; but, consider-

ing that quite a number must have been imported (for no one can pretend

that those at the Palace were all British-caught), it looks suspiciously as

though the specimen above referred to may also have had an "assisted

passage."



Most of the Bearded Tits that one sees at shows are undoubtedly

foreigners, for almost every year a few are imported. The only specimen at

the recent show to take a prize was however said to be hand-reared, and as-

it came from the Norfolk Broads district it was doubtless, a British example.

For our part we consider that anyone showing an acknowledged British-

caught Bearded Tit, in defiance of the Wild Bird Protection Act, should be

disqualified from receiving a prize.



In our humble opinion any bird which is on the British list should be

allowed to compete in classes provided for British birds, whether the actual

individuals shown were caught in Great Britain or not. Under present

rules, if a bird is known to be a foreign specimen it is disqualified, but, as-

it is in most cases impossible to say whether a specimen is a true British-

caught example or not, many of the rarest birds in the British classes

which take premier honours, are actually caught on the Continent.



If the management of the Crystal Palace Bird Show will persist, in

order to increase the gate-money, in holding the show over the week-end,.

they can hardly be surprised if foreign - bird exhibitors withhold their

entries. Thursday to the following Tuesday is too lengthy a period for

delicate birds to withstand the strain of the show bench, and there can be

little doubt that the number of entries would be considerably increased if

the show were held say from Tuesday to Friday, though posssibly this

would not compensate the management for missing the Saturday " gate."



