14



not scream. On the other hand, it is not usuallj- much of a talker, though

very clever at imitating the call-notes of other birds. It rapidly becomes

very tame, and seems to be more certain of its temper than some of the

larger Parrots. It has a comical way of hopping about the floor of its cage,

and will sometimes roll on its back when at play, just like a kitten.



We wish all success to the new “National British Bird and Mule

Club,” and we also wish it a rather less cumbrous name. We observe that ten

out of the twenty-one officers of the Club are members of the Avicultural

Society. We notice, with pleasure, that the protection of wild birds is one

of the objeCts of the Clnb.



The Cage Bird Club was wound up some months ago, and the funds

in hand divided amongst the members. We are glad to hear that the

members subscribed liberally towards a testimonial for Mr. Betts, and that

he was presented with a handsome ruby ring — it was fitting that there

should be some recognition of the manner in which Mr. Betts lavished both

time and money upon the Club. We believe that we are right in saying that

Mr. Betts paid deficits in the revenue of the Club to the extent of over _£6o.

No doubt the main cause of the failure of the Cage Bird Club was the high

subscription.



CORRESPONDENCE.



WHAT IS A BRITISH BIRD ?


Sir,—I n last month’s Avicultural Magazine Mr. Swailes starts a corre¬

spondence on what is, perhaps, the most important matter with regard to

British birds from a show point of view; and one on which I hope members

will freely give their opinions. If once a definition be decided on and

accepted at our principal shows-, it will tend to greatly diminish the dis¬

content which one hears frequently, and, I think, with good reason.


At the time of the last Brighton Show, I thoroughly thought the

matter out, with the result that the following rules were added to the

schedule.


Should no serious objection be made to these rules in the course of

the next month, might I suggest that they should be put to the vote ? If

passed, one would have a solid ground on which to ask for their insertion

in the schedules of the principal shows.


The Rules ran as follows : —


“ By ‘ British bird ’ is meant any individual (foreign Bullfinches and

Goldfinches excepted) of any species included in Mr. Howard Saunders*


‘ Dabel hist of British Birds.’ *


“ By ‘ Migratory bird ’ is meant any of those species included above,

which, during some part of the year, are entirely absent from every part of

the British Isles.” J. Lewis BonhoTE.



Sir,—M y idea of a British bird, sensu stricto, is a bird which either

breeds with us, or visits us of its own free will at some period of the year.



* “ A Eist of British Birds,” bj' Howard Saunders, F.L.S., F.Z.S., etc.; London, Gurney

and Jackson, i, Paternoster Row; price 6d.



