( 4 ; 



There remains the danger of sudden extinction. Life, in India 

 especially, is so uncertain that no sane man could count much 

 upon any undertaking that hinged upon a single individual. But 

 as a matter of fact, I believe that there are already two other 

 gentlemen able and willing to undertake the Editorship should 

 I fail, and it is hoped that before very long it may be found 

 possible to organize, according to the original design, a perma- 

 nent association of ornithologists, whose property this Journal 

 would then become, and who would thenceforth, whenever 

 necessary, provide for the due discharge of its editorial duties. 



The chief delay in arranging this depends on the necessity 

 of making the Journal thoroughly sell:' supporting before any 

 Association assumes the responsibility for it. On its present 

 basis Stray Feathers is now self supporting, but its size (as 

 more than half of Vol. III. already in type sufficiently proves) 

 is too small, and without illustrations it is manifestly incom- 

 plete, and we have yet to learn whether in this coming year 

 it will receive such enhanced support as will be required to 

 cover the heavy additional outlay necessitated by the change of 

 size and the preparation of plates in this country. 



Until a financial equilibrium on this new basis is arrived 

 at, the Editor, who is responsible for its creation, could not 

 of course allow any one to share the burthen ; but he does ven- 

 ture to hope that many of his zealous contributors and co-ad- 

 jutors will, bearing in mind the object aimed at, do all that 

 lies within their power to render Stray Feathers entirely 

 self supporting in its new and improved form. 



A. 0. H. 



