Chirps and 
Chatter. 
(213) THE BIRD WORLD. 
Chirps and Chatter. 
The Bird World in October. 
With the opening of October was 
ushered in another show season, and 
one which, from its early promise, seems 
likely to prove most exceptional and 
phenomenal. During the summer re¬ 
ports from the breeding rooms were not 
very favourable, but September proved 
such a glorious month that many back¬ 
ward and weakly young birds, instead 
of being adversely affected by the moult¬ 
ing period, actually came out of the 
moult improved in size, strength, and 
appearance. This was due to the fact 
that birds have this year moulted excep¬ 
tionally quick, and thus there has not 
been the drain on their constitutions 
which a cold, damp moulting season 
entails. 
The First Fruits. 
In an ordinary way our leading orni¬ 
thological societies open the autumn 
campaign the first week in October, but 
on this occasion, owing to some apparent 
misunderstanding with the Cage Bird 
Union, the Accrington Society were 
forced to hold their fixture on the last 
Friday and Saturday in September. It 
is said the early bird catches the worm. 
Unfortunately for the Accrington Execu¬ 
tive, although they were early, the worm 
refused to come out to be caught, i.e., 
the exhibition fanciers did not respond 
to the invitation of the East Lancashire 
society in the manner they usually do, 
and the result was thus disappointing, 
and entailed a financial loss upon one 
of the best-managed societies in the 
district. Had it not been for the good 
entry in the Yorkshires the result would 
have been very poor indeed; some very 
promising birds were to be seen amongst 
them, and the general average of merit 
was great. Norwich, with an extended 
classification, made a moderate show, 
but amongst the exhibits were some 
which are certain to attain very high 
honours ere the season has run its course. 
The British birds which were shown were 
in splendid bloom, and made a most 
interesting collection. 
Farther North. 
Across the Border the show season 
opened most auspiciously. The 
National Derby Show, held at Glasgow, 
had a wonderful entry of “ the bird o’ 
circle,” and the merit of the exhibits 
reached a higher standard than has been 
seen for some years. At Paisley, how¬ 
ever, the entry was not up to the aver¬ 
age, why, no one could understand; 
but this was compensated for in great 
measure by the fact that some very 
choice specimens were on view. St. 
Andrews and Dalkeith Shows were both 
most successful, the entry in each case 
being largely in advance of last year, 
the attendance good, and the exhibits of 
wonderful quality. Broughty Ferry and 
the Edinburgh Western Shows were also 
amongst those upon which success was 
stamped. At the former the competi¬ 
tion for Cage Birds prizes was held; 
it met with a large measure of support, 
and aroused considerable local interest. 
Mule Breeders to the Fore. 
Thus far, the principal feature of the 
Scottish shows has been the large entry 
in the Mule classes, and the large num¬ 
ber of Canary and British Bird Hybrids 
of great excellence which have been seen. 
From its early promise the show season 
of 1907-8 in Scotland looks like being 
handed down to fame as that in which 
greater progress in the art of hybridisa¬ 
tion has been shown than in any other. 
One breeder has been successful in pro¬ 
ducing four light Goldfinch-Canary 
Mules in one nest, and all of them are 
exhibition specimens. Selkirk and 
Glasgow were fixtures which shared in 
the success which has attended the 
shows across the Border. 
