regard to this election. I can make these remarks with a better grace, because

I am not prepared to take office myself, but I do not expect everyone to agree

with me, and I may have the misfortune to offend some.


It should be thoroughly understood that the Council is not a merely

ornamental body 7 ; it is, I am informed, consulted on many matters, and it

has two very important powers : viz, that of altering the rides, and that of

appointing the Executive Committee. The importance of the first power is

obvious, and that of the second is nearly as great, because the Executive

Committee have the whole management of the Society in their hands. It

becomes therefore of the gravest moment that suitable persons, and suitable

persons only, should be upon the Council. In my opinion the following are

essential qualifications for a member of the Council, (i) He should be prepared

to afford substantial help in the work of the Society, either by writing for the

Magazine, or by proposing new members. (2) He should be able and willing

always to reply to the Secretary’s letters by return of post. (3) He should

not be a dealer in birds—above all, he should not be an amateur dealer.


I have the greatest respedt for many of the dealers who are members

ofthe Society. I would not on any account exclude dealers from the Society,

but I do not think that it is desirable that they should be members of the

Council.


It seems to me very desirable that there should be a considerable

infusion of new blood into the Council every 3’ear.


I should like to impress upon the members that it is most essential

that every member should exercise his vote, for thus only can the election

of undesirable Councilmen be prevented. Septimus Perkins.



parrakeets AND PAINT.


Sir,—R eferring to Mr. Cress well’s question at page 10S, I may

mention that the wooden frame-work of ini'- garden aviary was originally

painted dark Brunswick green. Some of the Parrakeets gnaw this painted

wood rather free!} 7 , three varieties of Australian Broadtails (Platycerci) being

great offenders; but they have always kept in perfect health and condition.

The Many-Coloured Parrakeets are not much given to gnawing solid wood,

unless it be very soft ; but in wet weather thej' are fond of licking the rain

as it trickles down the painted wood-work. I still have a male which,

during the last several years, has spent most of his time in this aviary, and

is in splendid health and plumage ; but his upper mandible has gone

wrong. I have not hitherto thought of ■ the paint in Connection with this

Parrakeet, but have always attributed the mischief to the circumstance that

he feeds freely on the food placed in the aviarj' for insectivorous birds;

nevertheless it may have been caused by the paint.


Of many other Parrakeets, Love-birds, Lories, and Lorikeets, which

have been placed in this aviary from time to time, not a few have been fond

of licking the painted wood-work, and also some painted rain-water pipes,

during rain}' weather, but none have suffered so far as I know ; they seldom

gnawed the aviary, preferring the trees and the nesting-boxes. I must

except, however, four varieties of the Brotoger}'s family which I still have,

and which will gnaw anything; but I seldom place any of these in the

garden aviary as they are so timid, and because they are the special aversion

of the Chinese Blue Pie.


I rather think the point is : Has Mr. Cresswell’s aviar)' been painted

with good paint, i.e., with paint made with unadulterated white lead ? if it

has, the paint must be injurious, the perches being specially dangerous ; for

several species of the Australian Parrakeets will certainly gnaw the wood

unless provided with an almost unlimited supply of living trees and shrubs.


Reginald Phieeipps.



