N. Wharton-Tigar—The Crystal Palace Show



53



so many in mass or seen such a busy scene. The place is simply teeming

with birds and alive with wings and voices.


The trees are bounded by three busy roads and motor cars are

continuously passing, but the movement by day and' the glaring head¬

lights by night have not driven our friends away. It is almost pretty,

though very strange, for the first time to hear the low mimicking noise,

when passing through, under the trees, late at night. So prolifically

are they breeding that many fully fledged young have been found next

morning, lying dead on the ground beneath the tall trees, having

fallen from their high nests.


One actually insisted on answering roll-call one morning, in the

fifth standard classroom, of the near-by Boys Hill School. This was my

little son’s experience.



THE CRYSTAL PALACE SHOW


By N. Wharton-Tigar


For the second time this Show was held in the Dorland Hall,

Piccadilly, owing to the destruction by fire of the old Crystal Palace,

more than a year ago. Unfortunately, Dorland Hall is by no means

ideal for the purpose, although this year’s Show was a great improve¬

ment on last year’s. Even so, the Foreign Birds and Pheasants were

housed in a comparatively cramped corner, causing at times great

congestion and intense heat; also, the birds were not too well

distributed, classes in some cases were partly on one side of the Hall

and the remainder some distance away, making it difficult to examine

and compare the birds. However, apart from these disadvantages,

it was a most enjoyable function ; the quality of the exhibits was

very good indeed. Many rare and beautiful birds and Pheasants

were shown, and staged in grand condition.


Owing to his unavoidable absence, Mr. F. E. Fooks took Mr. J.

Delacour’s place in judging Pheasants and soft-billed foreign birds.

Mr. Fooks began with the Pheasants, and in Class 327 gave

1st to Mrs. Barrington’s outstanding Amherst. Mr. Lambert was



