79



Practical Bird Keeping.—A New Departure.


for in their pursuit they have a source of unending fascination

and absorbing interest.


This is neither the time or place in which to go into the

natural problems, the elucidation of which are so absorbing.

I merely wish to point out how we can make scientific use of the

results of our experience as aviculturalists if w T e so desire, and

any records with this object in view will always be most gladly

welcomed by the Editor.


We also intend to keep our columns open for all possible

notes and observations of birds in their wild state, this with the

primary object of assisting our members the better to keep birds

in captivity by a knowledge of their natural habits, and secondly,

of thereby adding to ornithological knowledge generally.


On the other hand, we most certainly do not wish to ignore

or under-rate what was one of the primary objects in the founding

of the Avicultural Society, i.e. mutual help and advice from all its

members on the keeping and breeding of birds. We wish the

Magazine to be a permanent record of all experiences of interest

and value gained by our members, and we also wish it to be a

Journal through which advice and information can be freely

obtained from our more experienced aviculturalists by those mem¬

bers who are as yet unskilled in the difficult art of bird-keeping.

Those amongst us, who have kept birds for years, do not always

realise the hundred and one little difficulties which beset the be¬

ginner, and are apt to forget that all the little “tricks” and “ tips”

which are now to us a matter of course, can only be learned by

our fellow-members through sad and heart-breaking experiences,

unless we make use of the pages of the Journal to lay before

them in detail the results we have attained. To this end, there¬

fore, it has been decided to set apart a certain portion of the

Magazine each month, where, under the headin g of Practical Bird

Keepmg , matters relating to the absolute business of the keeping

of birds will be dealt with. We are arranging to have one article

each month by experienced authorities on the subject, in which the

best methods of keeping the commoner species will be discussed.

This, we hope, will be of infinite assistance to the member with

but a few birds to care for, as well as of interest and value to the

more experienced aviculturalist.



