REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR


1902-1903.


It is with much satisfaction that we present the ninth

Annual Volume of our Magazine, the first of the New Series, to

the Members of the Society, together with our Report for the

Year: satisfaction, not because we have reached, nor even

approached, either perfection or finality in improvements, but

in the pleasing and incontrovertible fact that we are able to

point to a steady advance all along the line.


The Avicultural Magazine, the great bond of union between

the Members, has been substantially improved. With every

number we have issued a coloured plate, most of them being of

first-rate quality, and every one an original painting of a living

bird, drawn specially for the Magazine. Only those who have

had personal experience can form an idea of the immense

labour and anxiety, and the heavy and continuous expense,

which attach to this one single item in the formation of our

Magazine. Most of the water-coloured drawings are by the

skilled hands of Messrs. Gronvold and Goodchild, and we

have also once more to thank the Rev. H. D. Asteey for his

kind assistance in this connection. Neither must we fail to

heartily thank those who allowed us to have their birds

painted.


In addition to the coloured plates, we have published

photographs and various interesting and valuable drawings and

figures, notably those which accompanied Mr. Pycraft’s

valuable paper “ On the Topography of a Bird,” which appeared

in March.


The increase in Membership has been substantial, and

may still be expected to steadily increase as the Society becomes

more widely known; for it seems to be certain that there are

numbers of aviculturists in this country and around the world

who would be only too glad to join if they were aware of its

existence and merits. Here is a way—by making the Society

and its Magazine known—in which every Member can render



As the Monthly Magazines are sold, more and more plates have to be coloured as

circumstances may demand.-R. P.



