84 EXHIBITION. 



When the exhibition season closes, choose a 

 fine day to have your hampers washed, dried, 

 and put away. They should never be used but 

 . for exhibition birds ; disease is often spread by 

 sick birds being put for a few days into com- 

 fortable quarters (such as they aflford), and the 

 result is, the certain illness of the next occu- 

 pants. 



Dear reader, the day, the eventful day, arrives, 

 when your chosen champions must depart for the 

 battle-field, and quit their comfortable home. 



Poor things ! most of you have known no 

 other, and all may not return to it. Farewell, my 

 gallant cockerels ! Farewell, my dainty pullets ! 

 "Farewell," — perchance — " a long farewell, to all 

 my '" — beauties. 



Should your experience prove like mine, the 

 scene will be something in this wise. 



Through the morning mist the active hen- 

 wives may be discerned flitting to and fro like 

 mad women. But there is " method in their 

 madness." They are giving the last meal to 

 their charges, and placing each carefully labelled 

 hamper in its appointed place. 



