Our  Canaries 
that  are  sold  in  tins  ready  mixed,  as  they  will  not  answer  the  same  purpose. 
Go  to  a  working  painter,  explain  your  object  and  get  him  to  mix  what  is 
wanted.  The  colours  used  should  be  those  which  contrast  with  and  show  up 
the  colour  of  the  birds  to  the  best  advantage.  Remember  that  the  most 
skilfully  got-up  bird  will  be  handicapped  if  shown  in  a  slovenly  cage,  or  one 
painted  inside  with  an  unsuitable  tint.  For  yellow,  buff  and  lightly  variegated 
birds  the  inside  of  the  cage  should  be  a  rather  deep  porcelain  blue;  several 
shades  lighter  for  Cinnamons  ;  for  Lizards  and  Greens  a  light  sage-green, 
sometimes  called  a  greenish-grey.  The  floor  of  the  cage  may,  with  advantage, 
be  always  done  with  white. 
A  SHOW  MANAGER'S  ADVICE. 
On  the  subject  of  exhibiting  generally,  Mr.  J.  W.  Ramsden,  of  London, 
whose  brilliant  success  as  manager  of  the  Great  National  Crystal  Palace  Show  in 
late  years  has  earned  for  him  the  popular  title  of  Prince  of  Show  Managers,  has 
very  kindly  sent  us  the  following  notes  : — 
"When  deciding  upon  exhibiting  a  bird,  choose  a  show,  if  possible,  where 
the  railway  journey  can  be  made  without  a  break.  If  a  change,  or  changes, 
have  to  be  made  en  route,  dispatch  the  birds  in  good  time,  for  connections  are 
timed  for  passengers,  not  parcels  or  live  stock.  It  often  happens  that  trains 
are  late  in  arriving  at  junctions.  Passengers  are  hurried  into  the  trains  waiting 
for  them,  but  the  poor  birds  are  left  on  the  parcels  trolley,  waiting  to  be 
rebooked  and  forwarded  by  the  next  train.  For  cross-country  journeys  consult 
the  time  table  carefully  and  send  the  birds  off  so  that  they  will  arrive  at  the 
show  in  good  time.  This  helps  both  the  exhibitor  and  the  show  manager.  A 
bird  that  arrives  at  a  show  in  good  time  has  every  chance  to  recover  from  the 
fatigue  of  the  journey  before  being  judged ;  whilst  a  late  arrival  is  seriously 
handicapped  by  being  judged  when  tired  and  hungry. 
*'  For  greater  security  it  is  as  well  to  insure  the  exhibits  when  on  rail.  A  case 
can  be  insured  for  as  low  a  fee  as  threepence.  The  insured  value,  it  is  true, 
will  not  be  the  real  value  of  the  exhibits,  but  an  insured  case  is  better  looked 
after  during  the  journey,  and  this  in  itself  is  well  worth  the  small  fee  mentioned. 
PRUDENT  ADVICE. 
"  In  exhibiting,  be  sure  to  read  the  rules  and  regulations  governing  the 
show  carefully.  Make  your  entries  before  the  advertised  date  of  closing,  and 
if  you  do  not  wish  to  dispose  of  the  bird,  or  you  are  not  quite  certain  of  its 
real  value,  place  a  prohibitive  price  on  it  in  the  column  provided  for  the  purpose 
on  the  entry  form.  Many  a  novice  has  exhibited  a  bird  and  priced  it  at  a 
pound  or  two  when  really  the  bird  was  worth  five  times  the  price  quoted.  On 
reaching  the  show  he  has  found  his  bird  marked  '  First '  and  '  Sold  '—much 
to  his  disappointment." 
