EDITORIAL. 915 



rents a steady income for the benefit of the Museum. Such is the idea, it has 

 great possibihties but success can only be possible if it is taken in hand at once 

 and a determined effort made to overcome the delays and difficulties with which 

 we are so familiar in this country. It will be interesting to see whether procrasti- 

 nation gains the day or whether a scheme which will undoubtedly be of benefit 

 to the people of Bombay is successfully carried out. 



The attention of the Committee has been given to the question of Egret Farm- 

 ing in Sind and other places. This matter has roused considerable interest at 

 home both in the House of Commons, the Press, and at meetings of the B. O. U. 

 One might almost say that the question was first raised in this Journal as it is 

 round the illustrated article by Mr. Geo. Birch published in Volume XX II I that 

 arguments centre. Apart from the very important scientific details which require 

 setthng, the main question may be taken to be — can the trade in Egret feathers 

 be conducted in a similai* way to the trade in Ostrich feathers ? That is to say, 

 can all the feathers required be obtained without cruelty or injury to the Bird, 

 from Birds bred for the purpose, or are the Farms, which undoubtedly exist, 

 merely intended to be a cloak for the export of feathers obtained from the 

 slaughter of wild birds P Our Committee have made certain representations to the 

 Bombay Government which, we hope, will lead to a settlement of this 

 question. 



We hope members will maintain patience despite the continual delays in the 

 publication of Mr. Stuart Baker's Game Books. It is a wonder to us that 

 the patience of the author and of Mr. Millard, who is looking after the 

 publication, has not given way in view of the procrastination of English 

 printers and book-binders. It is evidently useless to prophecy as to when 

 the volumes will be issued as, if a date is announced in India, some malign 

 sprite in England will raise some fresh difficulty or strike to delay matters 

 further. All we can say is that both Messrs. Millard and Stuart Baker are 

 doing all they can to expedite the finishing touches to the volumes and their 

 despatch to India. 



The delay has been a help to the office staff who have had a considerable 

 amount of work to do in connection with the despatch of the snake charts to 

 subscribers and Government Institutions. The large wall charts have proved 

 a great success but there has not been the demand anticipated from members 

 for the pocket chart. It is a handy useful work which should be in the 

 possession of all our members in this country. Thanks to the assistance of 

 Col. Luard the Society has been able to arrange with the Oxford University 

 Press for the publication by them of vernacular editions of the hanging snake 

 chart. The issue of the Chart has revived the demand for that very inter- 

 esting book by Col. Wall on the Poisonous Snakes of India and has also 

 increased the number of enquiries as to when we intend publishing in book 

 form Col. Wall's illustrated articles on the "Common Snakes of India." 

 As to the latter we must we fear wait until prices at home for paper and 

 printers' wages have been very considerably lowered. 



The increase in cost in printing out here has decided the Committee to 

 accept advertisements in the journal from Pubhshers and Book Sellers, Taxi- 

 dermists, and Scientific Instrument Makers, and the Committee hope that 

 these advertisements will be of benefit to the advertiser, to the members, and 

 to the Society in general. 



The Editors are prepared to accept small advertisements from members, after 

 the manner of the advertisements of polo ponies in the "Pioneer.'' Communica- 

 tions should be sent to the Honorary Secretary. 



ISh: B. C. Ellison, the Society's Curator, is prepared to arrange for teachnig 

 skinning and the preserving of specimens to men sent down by members for 

 the purpose. The charge made would be the cost of materials used and a 

 douceur to the man who gives the instruction. The course of instruction 



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