Our  Canaries 
79 
win.  It  is  both  futile  and  foolish  to  adopt  the  legal  maxim  of  abusing  the 
winner,  or  the  judge  either  for  that  matter,  when  one  fails  to  score  a  win.  It 
is  far  better  and  more  dignified  in  every  respect  to  preserve  a  perfectly  cool 
demeanour,  and  to  keep  a  tight  rein  alike  on  spirit  and  temper :  neither  allow 
boundless  enthusiasm  to  carry  you  beyond  reasonable  limits  when  you  carry 
off  the  cups  and  trophies,  nor  righteous  or  misplaced  indignation  to  betray 
you  when  you  win — nothing.  Exhibiting  is,  in  a  sense,  merely  one  method  of 
gratifying  the  sporting  instinct  which  every  man  possesses  more  or  less.  There- 
fore, above  all  else,  endeavour  to  show  good  sportmanship,  and  if  you  lose 
one  day  hope  to  win  the  next.  Do  not  expect  a  bird  that  won  yesterday 
must  necessarily  win  again  to-day,  even  if  it  meets  the  same  birds  under  the 
same  judge,  nor  accuse  a  judge  of  bias  if  this  has  happened.  There  are  so 
many  little  details  that  might  have  turned  the  balance  against  it  on  this 
occasion.  It  might  have  been  tired  and  seedy  at  judging  time,  but  picked 
up  since,  or  it  might  have  been  refreshing  itself  by  taking  a  dip  in  its  water 
tin,  and  in  either  case  appearing  at  a  serious  disadvantage  for  the  time  being. 
When  these  things  are  taken  into  account  and  it  is  remembered  that  a  judge 
must  distribute  the  honours  for  the  merits  of  the  birds  as  he  sees  them,  and 
not  as  he  thinks  they  may  appear  a  few  hours  later,  some  latitude  must,  in 
justice,  be  allowed  for  these  apparently  contradictory  awards. 
CONFORMITY  TO  CUSTOM. 
When  embarking  in  the  exhibition  arena  it  is  well  to  set  out  with  a 
stern  determination  to  avoid  any  deviation  from  the  prevailing  customs  and 
usages  in  the  conduct  and  government  of  shows.  In  the  matter  of  cages, 
the  style,  size,  colour,  water  tins,  perches,  right  down  to  the  string  used  for 
tying  on  labels,  one  should  conform  to  the  orthodox  and  recognised  details. 
However  good  a  taste  one  might  have  in  preparing  the  cages  to  suit  particular 
birds,  or  however  smart  and  excellent  contrivances  one  may  devise  for  convenience 
in  holding  cards,  labels,  perches  or  any  other  matter  of  detail,  it  should  be  rigidly 
excluded  from  the  show  cages  if  it  differs  in  the  least  apparent  manner  from 
that  in  common  vogue ;  otherwise,  if  the  owner  is  a  successful  exhibitor,  these 
little  disparities  will,  sooner  or  later,  be  pounced  upon  by  his  unsuccessful 
rivals  and  may  cause  him  much  unpleasantness.  His  motive  may  be  of  the 
most  innocent  and  honourable  description,  but  it  will  not  deter  the  disappointed 
exhibitor,  who  is  a  bad  sportsman,  endeavouring  to  smirch  it  when  the  owner 
reaches  the  zenith  of  a  successful  career.  It  is,  therefore,  most  advisable  to 
studiously  avoid  even  the  appearances  of  evil. 
SAFETY  SHOW   CAGE  NEEDED. 
There  are  now  so  many  excellent  models  of  show  cages  on  the  market 
that  it  would  appear  as  if  there  were   no   room   for  further  improvement. 
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