Full Circle : Revived Aviculture



95



dependent upon his contributors, he cannot evolve papers and articles

out of thin air.


Every former Editor will agree that this historic chair is by no means

a bed of roses. The editing of the Magazine (now thanks to its

contributors one of the leading natural history journals of the world)

is no sinecure, and by no means consists, as is popularly imagined,

of stringing together in haphazard fashion more or less suitable articles.

Only the best work is worth doing, and to produce a journal compatible

with the time-honoured traditions of the Society demands constant

and exacting labour. To all the normal disabilities are now added the

trials of post-War editing, a disconcerting novelty unknown before the

War, though accepted as in the day’s work ; happily months of War

experience prove a great resource. The Editor gives his services

during the intervals of a life devoted to the most exacting of all

professions ; this is done willingly, but it is seemly that the facts should

be known.


Contributors are asked to strengthen the hands of the Editor (and

we believe the Council to be also favourable) by continuing the output

of more purely avicultural “ copy ”. The post-War specimens are

certainly somewhere; we suggest that on account of the high prices now

obtaining they are largely in the aviaries of our wealthier members,

and it is to them more particularly that Aviculture looks for pioneer

observations on rare birds. Regarding commoner species, if the

Magazine is to be really and truly the journal for beginners, records of

successes (or almost equally interesting failures) are the order of the day.


We believe the present number to be the most purely avicultural

issue that has appeared since the Armistice. We hold that it is no part of

an Editor’s duty to be garrulous, but rather to be silent and self-effacing,

but the present is the time to speak, and although reconstruction has

been slow we trust that it is sure, and that the house at last set in order

will so continue. We have before us many of the pre-War volumes of

the Magazine, edited by Mr. Astley and his predecessors; they are full

of excellent articles and notes, hints on feeding, housing, breeding,

avicultural news in the best style. It is to this standard that we now

suggest approximation, infusing new life into the Magazine, so that the

future shall be brighter than the past.



