3°4



silver could do no harm ; and I should keep the bird on grass; or, if that

be impossible, on peat moss litter frequently sprinkled with water (at any

rate not on sand). If the toe be swelled, and no thickening of the skin

noticeable, I should fear that it may be due to some constitutional weak¬

ness (akin to gout), such as some Pheasants and the northern Falcons (Ice¬

land and Greenland) are so liable to, and which is much more difficult to

treat. If any matter (pus) be suspected, and the swelling be ripe for open¬

ing, a sharp clean lancet should be used, and the bird must be kept on clean

ground, or grass if possible. W. H. ST. QUINTIN.


IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAGAZINE.


Sir, —At the meeting of the Council on July 4th, it was agreed that

the front of the cover of the monthly Magazine should be rendered more

attractive and suitable by the addition of a line drawing of a bird, the

whole design to be executed by some well-known artist.


For my part I am perfectly satisfied with the plain, suitable green

paper covering of the Magazine that we have hitherto had ; it answers

admirably for the purpose for which it is intended, namely, to preserve the

interior of the Magazine.


I, possibly as some of the other members do, keep all my Magazines

in their original published state. Members who wish to have their Magazines

bound are able to obtain covers and get them bound at the publishers for a

small sum.


I think that it would be far better if the money, that is intended to

be spent for outward show and decoration of the cover of the Magazine,

was spent in improving the interior by giving an extra coloured plate

or a good engraving of some bird, 011 which articles are written from

time to time in the Magazine, or of the rarer birds that some of our

wealthy members possess, who, I am sure, would willingly help to make the

Magazine more one of useful knowledge and information rather than one

of outward decoration. Certainly some of the Magazines of the present

day have artistic and decorative covers, but these Magazines are for the

millions. Professor Herkomer's “ Magazine of Art,” of 1SS0, had a lovely

“ wood-cut ” cover.


An extra coloured plate or an engraving would be preserved, and not

get roughened or dirty as would an engraving on the cover of the Magazine.


In the case of those members who have their Magazines bound the

cover would go the way of all covers, namely, to the waste-paper basket.


I am very pleased to see the new rules brought out by the Council,

and wish the Magazine every success which it deserves. E. G. Salt.


[We are sorry that I)r. Salt does not approve of the decision of the

Council, to render the cover, as well as the interior of the Magazine, more

attractive than heretofore. It is, however, too late now to make any

change in what the Council have decided upon, even if it were desirable to

do so, and we have little doubt that when the first number of Vol. IX.

appears next month, the majority, at any rate, of our members will be well

pleased. We would remind Dr. Salt that no less than seven coloured

plates have been given with the present volume, besides numerous black

and white plates, so we think there can be little to complain of in the way

of illustrations. — E d.]



