THE



Bvtcultural Ylfoagasme,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



NO. 12.



OCTOBER, 1895.



REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.


With this issue of the Magazine the first year’s work of the Avicul-

tural Society conies to a conclusion. We think that the Society may

heartily congratulate itself upon the progress it has made, and the position

it has attained.


Beginning in November 1894 with 52 members, the Society now

numbers 175. This is a very satisfactorj^ increase of membership, and

certainly exceeds our expectations, nevertheless, at least 200 members are

required to place the Society beyond all fear of a deficit, that number

therefore must be secured before the end of next year, and we hope that it

will be largely exceeded. We would impress upon the members the fact

that it rests with them to find and propose new members, and that no

amount of energy on the part of the officers will make up for apathy in this

■respect on the part of the members.


The thanks of the Society are due to all who have proposed candi¬

dates for election during the past year. Our method of election has proved

highly satisfactory, and we believe that we have added to our member¬

ship none but honourable aviculturists, who will maintain the prestige and

contribute to the further success of the Avicultural Society.


It has been the aim of the Editors of the Magazine to provide each month

articlesupon the two subjects of British Birdsand Foreign Birds in fairly equal

proportions, but it must be remembered that in this matter the Societv is

entirely in the hands of its members : If they do not write upon the

subjects which interest them, those subjects will remain insufficiently

represented in the Magazine. We tender our warmest thanks to those who

have written for the Magazine during the past year, and trust that we shall

have much interesting matter from the same and from other pens next year.

While our articles have been addressed to the practical aviculturist. rather

than to the ornithologist, we believe that nothing has appeared which has

been in any way opposed to the best scientific teaching: we have

endeavoured to be popular without being unscientific.


The work of the Executive Committee deserves special thanks and

special praise : the success attained by the Society has been largely due to

their untiring efforts. The Secretary has had to bring a great variety of

matters under their consideration, and the work entailed upon them in

correcting proofs, in correspondence, and in other ways too numerous to

mention, has been very considerable.


Advice has been given to numerous correspondents upon avicultural

subjects by post, and our thanks are due to those Members of the Council

who have so kindly undertaken and so promptly and efficiently fulfilled

this duty. A large number of letters have been answered, and those which

were of general interest have been printed in the Correspondence Columns

of the Magazine.


In May, a proposal was received from the Secretary of the United King¬

dom Foreign Cage Bird Society, that that Society should be amalgamated



