54



differs from the common Rhea americana in being white instead of grey,

with the exception of some feathers about the head and neck. Then there

is a Brazilian Courlau (Aramus scolopaceus). The last specimen, purchased in

1S75, died more than twenty years ago. The Courlan is about two feet in

length, and bears a general resemblance to a large Rail. Its general colour

is chocolate-brown, with a somewhat metallic lustre.



We have very great difficulty in accurately ascertaining the tastes

of the majority of our readers. We try to do the best we can for them,

and we believe that on the whole they are very well satisfied with the

fare provided, but we are a good deal in the dark as to what is most

appreciated and what left unread—we almost wish sometimes that the

members would grumble more, and then we should know better what to

avoid. We wish we could have a peep at our readers while they are

cutting open their Magazines, and see to which pages they first apply the

paper-knife.



It is certainly a pity that we cannot afford to give everyone coloured

plates without extra charge; but it is, and, what is more, always will be,

quite impossible. No increase in the number of members would ever

enable us to give away a hand-coloured plate each month, for the cost of

the hand-colouring of the extra copy required for each new member would

just about absorb his subscription. If, therefore, w r e are expecting an

increase of membership to enable us to give away a coloured plate monthly,

we are like the Irishman who sold his goods under cost price and

thought he made a profit by selling a large quantity. We must not, however,

jump to the conclusion that more members would be useless, for the fa6t

is they are wanted very badly, and the great drawback to the Society is its

comparatively small membership. If we had 300 members we could have

a plate every month (those who wish for it coloured paying extra for it)

and we could also have more illustrations in the body of the Magazine, like

Mr. Astley’s charming drawing wdiich we publish this month. Will the

members please do their utmost this year to gain recruits so that next

year we may be able to afford a plate every month ?



We find that some of our remarks about the Feathered World in the

November Magazine have been misunderstood—they were perhaps a little

misleading. It is true that the correspondence in that paper is, of course,

unpaid (and we think the correspondence is the best part of the F. W.) but

most of the articles are paid for, and, of course, the Show Reports.



A member of the Society thinks that aviculturists ought to be warned

against trusting specimens of the genus Petronia among other birds. A

pair of Petrotiia fiavicollis “managed to kill, in a travelling box as they

were being brought from Marseilles, six Parrot Finches, four Lagonostica

brunneiceps, a Pectoral Finch, a Sydney Waxbill, and various Mannikins; a

little hole being neatly drilled in their heads.” After this performance, we

are not surprised to hear that the happy possessor of these blood-thirsty

little birds keeps them in a cage, and does not trust them loose in his bird-

room. A well known dealer lost nearly £100 worth of birds through the

destructiveness of one cock of the same or a similar species.



