94



Full Circle : Revived Aviculture



pre-War specimens as they gradually died off; in the end scarcely any¬

one had any birds at all, the largest collections became a shadow of

their former selves. Under these circumstances strictness was relaxed,

and all contributions that could in a broad sense be called avieultural

were accepted.


With the coming of peace and the withdrawal of import restrictions

it was hoped to restore the original character of the Magazine. Thus

the report of the Council (Avic. Mag., December, 1919) suggests that as

opportunities for restocking their depleted aviaries occurred members

would have no difficulty in supplying the Editor with articles or para¬

graphs on aviculture. Material is not lacking ; it is well known that

the post-War importations of birds were readily bought up even at

post-War prices, and that the reopened market is well patronized at

the present time. Already the pendulum is moving, and excellent

avieultural papers of pre-War standard have begun to appear. Birds

of Paradise, Parrots, Owls, Ivagus, and Woodpeckers have recently

occupied these pages, to the pleasure and profit of all of us.


Now we ask for more and more purely avieultural papers, to complete

the reconstruction so well begun. We want to fulfil the original purpose

of the Magazine. We want the possessors of new stock to write about it:

there is very much to learn about common birds even, and the humble

Waxbill and Avadavat is by no means to be despised. Then the

fortunate owners of rarities, Cassowaries, Trogons, Sun Bitterns—

we know such gentlemen exist—would much benefit our science if

they would put pen to paper. Our Society includes many veteran

aviculturists of wide experience besides its younger members, and it

would indeed be excellent to join forces for the common good. All

contributions will be carefully considered, and those who may not

care to write a paper could at any rate contribute an avieultural note.


Such co-operation would not only hasten recovery, but materially

lighten the labours of the Editor. When all is said, it is the contributors

who make the Magazine, who hold its future in their hands, who

determine its character. We believe that a full return to ]jre-War

aviculture is the wish of every member of the Society, but the speed

of the return is determined by the nature of the papers submitted,

and no Editor can print jxipers if members do not write them. Wholly



