Report of the Council for 1018-1910



251



(3) The Alteration in the Commencement of the Society's Year .—

Since the inauguration of the Society in 1894 its year has commenced

in November, and terminated in the following October. Many

inconveniences connected with finance and publication have arisen

from this anomalous arrangement, and the Council have for a long

while been convinced that coincidence between the Society’s year and

the calendar year would be a distinct advantage, not only to Members

but also to non-members interested in Aviculture who consult and

quote the Magazine. It was decided, therefore, to make the change,

and the Society’s year for the future will begin on January 1 and end

on December 31 following.


In announcing the regretted retirement of Miss Rose Alderson

from the Honorary Secretaryship the Council wishes to place on record

their sincere appreciation of the services she rendered the Society

during her tenure of that post, and at the same time to express their

heartfelt sympathy with her for the serious illness which compelled

her to send in her resignation. Miss Alderson took up the arduous

duties of Honorary Business Secretary at a time when the Council was

faced with the difficulty of finding a volunteer able and willing to

undertake the task ; and the able manner in which, despite all obstacles,

she conducted the affairs of the Society through a period of exceptional

stress deserves the gratitude of all its Members. Dr. Lovell-Keays,

who acted as Secretary for a short time before his services were required

for the country during the War, has kindly consented to resume the

post in succession to Miss Alderson.


A point connected with the present volume, upon which the Council

feels compelled to comment, is the noticeable falling off in the numbers

of articles and notes dealing with the main business and purpose of

the Society, namely Aviculture, and the substitution, unavoidable under

the circumstances, of essays rather ornithological than avicultural in

character. This regrettable event is attributable partly to the absence

from England of many of our usual contributors or to their occupation

with other matters ; but mainly, it appears, to the general disorganiza¬

tion of commerce involving the animal trade, which for long prevented,

and still hampers, the importation of living birds. For 1920 the

prospect is brighter ; and since the number of interesting exotic birds



