The Story of a 
Starling. 
(83) THE BIRD WORLD. 
The Story of a Starling. 
By G. G. HENDERSON. 
Fanciers in general, and exhibitors in 
particular, are always on the look out 
for something special, and when they do 
procure what they consider a coming 
champion don’t they smile as they pic¬ 
ture to themselves the firsts and specials 
that are sure to come rolling in during 
the next show season. How many times 
and oft have their bright hopes been 
darkened by the loss of the lauded one 
just on the eve of the exhibiting days 
A Scottish Rendezvous. 
The Glasgow Bird Mart is where all 
the fanciers in and around Glasgow 
of dogs and birds congregate every 
Saturday afternoon and evening for 
a genial talk on the subject which is 
next their heart. The building is 
situated at the foot of the Salt Market, 
and is directly opposite the Glasgow 
Green, the home of the street orator. 
When you enter the Mart you find your¬ 
self standing on a raised platform over¬ 
looking the Hall, and from where you 
can survey the whole surroundings. To 
reach the body of the Hall you have to 
descend a few steps. The front portion 
of the building is reserved for the stands 
of the dealers, who have their birds in 
cages displayed on the walls. The 
middle of floor and back part are 
devoted to the buying and selling of 
dogs, Pigeons, rabbits, and miscel¬ 
laneous articles. Should you feel in 
need of refreshment you can get a cup 
of tea, a bottle of lemonade, or a glass 
of ice-cream, but nothing stronger. The 
Mart is generally crowded, and at times 
packed, with all sorts and conditions of 
men, from the budding fancier to the 
old exhibitor and trusted judge. What 
a happy gathering this is to be sure of a 
Saturday night; rich and poor—all are 
equal; no superiors this evening; Jack’s 
as good as his master; every one glad to- 
meet his fellow club mates, and have an 
hour’s chat on their particular fancy. 
Seasonal Conversation. 
In the spring time the conversation is. 
on matching of pairs, feeding, hand- 
rearing, the best time to put them to¬ 
gether, etc. Hear that dealer by the- 
right shouting. “ Here you are, the fum 
of the fair. Canaries and cage 10s. a 
pair.” In the summer months you don’t 
meet such a number of fanciers, the 
reason being many are too busy boiling 
eggs, gathering green food, or hand¬ 
feeding; others are on holiday, but on 
an occasional Saturday, should you. 
come across anyone you know, it is quite- 
refreshing to hear of the full eggs he 
has which are bound to turn out sure 
winners, another may have a sad tale to 
tell of bad feeding hens, egg-eating 
cocks, and so on. In the autumn the- 
subject is moulting, colour-feeding, and 
the getting ready of the likely winners 
for the coming shows, the first being the 
great City of Glasgow Exhibition, held 
in October. Over there to the left are- 
quite a number of the Glasgow and 
West of Scotland, Norwich, Mule, 
British and Foreign Bird Club members, 
busy discussing their coming open show, 
and ' chaffing each other on the full 
hybrid eggs that never came off. One 
friend is relating how a fancier in Rothe¬ 
say bred hybrids from a wild Greenie 
and Bullie in a soap box, and their only- 
food was Parrot mixture. 
Wild Birds by Hundreds. 
This is the time that the wild birds, 
are sold in hundreds every Saturday, 
from the sixpenny Redpoll to the half- 
