THE SHOW QUESTION.


In the correspondence columns, one of onr members proposes that

the Avicultural Society should hold a Show for Foreign and British birds

in the Spring. It is perhaps rather early in the day to raise this question,

but one or two points suggest themselves— -firstly, since the larger propor¬

tion of our members never exhibit, and some are opposed to the holding of

Shows, it would be obviously unfair to utilize the general funds of the

Society for this purpose— secondly, it would be necessary to selecft a place

where there are one or more members, who would undertake the manage¬

ment of the Show. The Secretary and Treasurer frankly admit that they

do not feel disposed to manage an exhibition at Brighton.


Should any .Members be willing to guarantee the funds, and to be

responsible for the management of a Show, the Secretary will be very

pleased to submit their scheme to the Committee—but the holding of Shows

was not one of the objects for which the Society was founded, and the

Committee would not be disposed to move in the matter, unless it appeared

to be the almost unanimous wish of the members.



BALDNESS IN BIRDS.


Dr. Butler, in his very interesting article on “ Aviculture in Aviaries,”

attributes the baldness to which some of the ornamental finches (especially

the Avadavats and Cordon Bleus) are liable, in all cases to plucking b)'-

other birds. In a collection of waxbills, which Dr. Simpson kept for some

years in a large cage in a sitting-room, some of the specimens, especially

Cordon Bleus and Avadavats, invariably became bald at the commencemeutof

Winter, but recovered their plumage in the Spring. It was found that by

placing the birds in a warm place and keeping them at a high temperature,

the feathers rapidly grew, but specimens which were isolated in a cold room

did not improve. Here, it seems clear that cold was the cause. It is, how¬

ever, quite possible that some of the birds constantly plucked the others,

that in warm weather the feathers were rapidly reproduced, but that in cold

weather the birds were unable to reproduce the feathers. The question is

one of much interest to Aviculturists, and the Secretary would be glad to

publish the experiences of other members.



OUR PROGRAM M E.


The Secretary hopes that every member will assist him in making the

Magazine a success by sending notes or short articles on Aviculture from

time to time. It is intended to publish an account of the various bird-

rooms and aviaries belonging to the members, under the title of “ Our

Bird Rooms and Aviaries.” Mr. Phillipps has earned the thanks of the

Society by his most valuable contribution to this series. Will each member

follow his example ? Another series on “ Rare Foreign Birds,” to which

Mr. Fillmer this month contributes “ The Parrot Finch,” and “ The Black¬

tailed Hawfinch,” it is believed will be of great interest, if all will help

by sending notes on the rare species they have kept. Will those who live

in the country communicate their observations on wild bird life ? And will

our more scientific friends enlighten us on those points of ornithology which

bear upon practical Aviculture. Dastly, will those who do not feel able to

do anything else ask questions ?



NOTE BY THE TREASURER.


I shall be much obliged if those members who have not j^et paid

their subscriptions, will kindly remit them to me in the course of tire next

few weeks.


I have promised that the necessary funds shall be forthcoming for

the printing and circulating of our Magazine for one year, and that the

Society shall start upon its second year free from debt; after October, 1895,



