Successful Exhibiting. 123 



jiortions of its ceres held close b)' an admixture of dirt 

 and mucous discharge from the eyes. Beauty we all 

 admire, but there is no beauty about a Pigeon dead 

 out of form; and sucli a bird ought not to be reco'^- 

 nised by our judges. Some will have condition; 

 others are not so particular. 



WHY BIRDS F.VII, TO WIN. 



Many birds which should and could win are left 

 cardless because they are in the moult. There are 

 some who never think a bird is out of condition unless 

 it is ragged in feather from the mottlt. Then they 

 can see it, and will say, " Look at its condition ! 

 WHiat could 5'-ou expect?" I think little of the 

 absence of feathers during the ])rogi'ess of the moult. 

 The bird at that time is going through one of the 

 natural processes of its existence. It must moult to 

 live, and it is quite possible for a bird to be deep in 

 the moult and \-et in sjilendid condition. Its feathers 

 may be clean, its e^'e bri.ght and clear, its flesh hard 

 and firm, its carriage and action smart and lively. No ! 

 the mere fact that a bird is moulting does not imply 

 lack of condition. It certainly does mean that it is 

 not in full beaut\ of plumage, and it should not mean 

 more in a bird that is well looked after. I grant that 

 it is more difficult to keep a bird in condition during 

 the moult than at anv other time, but this is because 

 in addition to su]>plying its body with its necessary 

 sustenance it has also to grow a new coat. 



suJsriMER SHO^VI^■G. 

 Year b\' vear are our Summer shows growing in 

 number and importance. Some few years since such 

 shows were almost all held in the North, but now South 

 country fanciers have many a little flutter in the 

 Summertime, and the tendency is towards more and 

 more of these Summer outings. As these fixtures in- 

 crease in number and volume year by year, it is incum- 

 bent upon those fanciers who would move with the 

 times that they should have a few birds in good form 

 for Summer shows. Some there are who keep a few 

 birds on purpose for them. They, of course are, in 



