About 
Foreign Birds. 
(ii) THE BIRD WORLD. 
enamelled white, which I think is a 
mistake. White enamel strikes too cold, 
gives the bird a washy appearance, and 
shows up any imperfections in its 
plumage. I have tried many colours, 
and I think green, in different shades 
according to the colour of the bird, suits 
them best. Dark holly green is often 
advised, but in my opinion does not suit 
so well as bright green or emerald, but 
there is no hard and fast rule. A little 
must be allowed for one’s own taste. 
Scottish Exhibitions. 
The classification provided at Scotch 
shows hitherto, with one or two excep¬ 
tions, has been far from creditable to the 
societies who have the drawing out of 
them. Imagine a society which adver¬ 
tises its annual fixture, “ Scotland’s 
Greatest Show,” and yet it has only one 
class for Foreign birds, exclusive of 
Foreign Goldfinches. I hold that 
Foreign Bullfinches and Goldfinches 
should not compete in Foreign bird 
classes. They ought to have a class 
provided for themselves, but if a class 
is not provided, they ought to be eligible 
to compete in the British bird classes. 
The points for judging them being 
identical with their British cousins, there 
is nothing to hinder any judge of British 
judging them side by side with 
British Finches on their own merits. 
Better, however, to have a class for 
them, and let it follow their respective 
classes in the British section, as a judge 
of British is more likely to know the fine 
points of a show Goldfinch than a 
Foreign bird judge. Now, in “ Scot¬ 
land’s Greatest Show” you will see all 
sorts and sizes of Foreign birds compet¬ 
ing for the coveted position. You can 
see the tiny Waxbill staged against the 
huge Macaw, and all the different grades 
between. Co to the show that styles 
itself “ The Palace of Scotland ” and you 
will see the same. It makes one wonder 
where the resemblance to the Palace 
show is. But these shows are no excep¬ 
tion, they are the rule, the exception 
being that a few shows go one better and 
provide two classes, one for large and 
one for small Foreign. This is a great 
improvement, and the diversity in size of 
the exhibits is not so ridiculous. But I 
think every open show should endeavour 
to have at least three classes for Foreign, 
namely: Foreign birds, large; Foreign 
seed eaters, smaller than and including 
Java Sparrow; Foreign, insectivorous, 
or fruit eating, smaller than and includ¬ 
ing Scarlet Tanager. The large insecti¬ 
vorous and fruit-eating birds such as the 
Toucan and Turacco would look more 
in place competing with the Parrots 
than in an insectivorous class along with 
such small fry as the Zosterops and such 
like. If this were done, I am sure there 
would be a better turn-out of the smaller 
species. The Scottish National gives 
four classes for Foreign birds proper, 
and by so doing takes the lead among 
Scottish shows, and helps to maintain 
the national honour. 
Judges and Judging. 
The classification is not the only 
thing that calls for attention. Specialist 
judges should be appointed, as many of 
the judges of British are incapable of 
doing justice to the Foreign classes. I 
have seen a common Weaver placed 
first in a large class of small seed eaters 
containing many rare and valuable Grass- 
finches in fine condition. At one show 
I exhibited a good pair of Rufus Tails. 
As I did not get among the honours with 
them, I contrived an interview with the 
judge, and he told me he thought they 
were Zebra Finches. If the classes are 
large, there are very few of the present 
judges who could name all the exhibits, 
and probably not the half of them. 
Now, you are not to think I wish to 
throw any slur on these gentlemen who 
act as judges. By no means; as far as 
I have seen they do their work to the best 
of their knowledge, but it is the fault of 
the societies in appointing them to work 
they are not acquainted with. I know 
well enough it is far easier finding fault 
than finding a remedy. Before the ex¬ 
hibiting of Foreign birds becomes 
popular in Scotland, which it is not at 
present, something will have to be done 
in this direction. The formation of a 
Foreign bird club for Scotland might be 
the means of solving the difficulty, and 
as Edinburgh is the stronghold of 
Foreign bird fanciers, it would be appro- 
