54



THE SOCIETY.



An impression seems to prevail amongst our members, and the public,

that only those who keep birds in captivity are eligible to join our Society.

This is very far from being the case. All bird-lovers are heartily welcome,

whether owners of birds or not. Those who study the habits of wild birds

are specially welcome.


This reminds us that complaint is made that there is not more about

our birds in freedom to be learned through the Society. If some of our

members will take the hint, and help us by writing about birds, British or

foreign, in the wild state, we shall be particularly grateful.


On the other hand, it should not be overlooked that, when writing

of the birds in captivity, we often bring out details in the nature of species

which are practically undiscoverable by the field naturalist, immensely

valuable as his observations must ever be. The two studies should march

together hand in hand, the one complementing the other, both being

steadied aud guided by the work of the scientist. R. P.



THE ILLUSTRATIONS.



From letters received by the Secretary, it is evident that our members

have no idea of the amount of time and work involved in the production of

coloured illustrations. Some complain, in a very injured strain, that no

coloured plate appeared in the first number of the current volume.


We may explain briefly the process adopted for hand-coloured

illustrations. The artist (who is often a busy man, and not always able to

undertake w r ork just when he is wanted) has often to travel some distance

to the residence of the aviculturist who owns the subject of the illustration.

A drawing often takes several days to complete, and, as the artist is

generally unable to devote several days in succession to any one picture,

sometimes ten days, ora fortnight elapses before one drawing is completed.


When the water-colour drawings are finished, the next process is to

re-draw these on stone, a proceeding which again occupies considerable

time. It is desirable, for several reasons, that four pictures should be

drawn on one stone.


The lithographing finished, the plates have to be printed, proofs

submitted and approved; lettering put on, and lettered proofs again sub¬

mitted for approval. When these are passed, the whole four can be printed

off (500 copies of each). When the printing is done, each plate has to be

hand-coloured; and, as the colourists are often busy with work for other

scientific publications, it is evident that some time must elapse before the

plates are read}' for the Magazine.


Since we undertook the arrangements for the illustrations, no pains

have been spared, and no time wasted, in pushing the coloured plates

forward as rapidly as possible.


At the present time we have four lithographed plates printed ; and, il

the colourists do not fail us, we hope to publish the first in our next

number. It is the intention of the Executive Committee to issue six-

coloured plates before November next, if possible.



