xii.



The Rules under which the Society’s Medal has hitherto been

granted are under consideration and possible revision. By no Society of

repute that we are acquainted with are Medals distributed so lightly as our

Medal has been in the past; and Medals that are lightly distributed may

come to be lightly esteemed. Nevertheless the original idea in awarding

the Medal—that of encouraging aviculture—must not be lost sight of. We

hope to be able to print the amended Rules in our next issue.


Under the Rules which have been in force up to the end of the

avicultural year just closed, the members whose names are given below

have reared the young of species which it is believed have not been

previously reared in this country. Members and others are invited to

examine the list, and are requested to immediately communicate with the

Secretary should they be aware of any earlier instance of the rearing of the

young of any of the species mentioned. The account of the breeding of

each species may be found at the page indicated. These are in addition to

those to whom the medal has already been awarded this year.


Page 165— The Cape Sparrow, by Mr. Skth-Smitii.


,, 191—Leadbeater’s Cockatoo, by Mrs. Johnstone.


,, 192—The Andaman Starling, by the Rev. C. D. Farrar.


,, 197—The Black-headed or Pagoda Mynah, by the Rev. C. D. Farrar.


., 217 —The European Roller, by Mr. St. QuinTin.


,, 219—The Rufous-tailed Grassfinch, by Mr. AeF. E- NiCHOESON.


* The Orange-cheeked Waxbill, by Miss R. AedkrSON.


* The South African Eagle Owl, by Mr. BonhoTK.



POST MORTEM EXAMINATIONS.


For a long time the Society has felt the want of some competent

person willing to undertake the examination of dead birds, who would

report through our columns, for the general good, the causes of the deaths

of our feathered friends. Many unsuspected errors in our mode of dealing

with our birds are occasionally brought to light by post mortem examin¬

ations, and consequently the lives of the survivors saved and prolonged,

other readers likewise profiting by the warnings disclosed.


It is, therefore, with sincere pleasure that we are enabled to announce

to our members (for the privilege is reserved to members of the Avicultural

Society) that Mr. Arthur Giee, a member of our Council, has most

kindly offered to step into the breach, and, without fee, make the desired

examinations. Our cordial thanks are due to Mr. Gill for this valuable

assistance.


RULES.


Each bird must be forwarded, as soon after death as possible, care¬

fully packed and postage paid, direct to Mr. Gill (Veterinary Establishment,

Bexley Heath, Kent), and must be accompanied by a letter containing the

fullest particulars of the case.


If a reply by post (in addition to any Report that may appear in the

Magazine) be required, a stamped and addressed envelope must likewise be

forwarded to Mr. Gill.


* In these two cases, Medals cannot be awarded unless detailed accounts of the

breeding 1 are duly furnished for publication in our Magazine. Mr. Gedney states that the

young of the Orange-cheeked Waxbill have been reared by his Zebra Finches, to whose

nest the eggs had been transferred; and other cases may perhaps be known to some of our

members.



