3n fIDemoriam.



For the second time during 1S99 our Society has to mourn

the loss of one of its Vice-Presidents. Our readers will probably

have seen in the obituary of The Times the death, on Dec. 10th, of

Louisa. Mary, Baroness Berkeley, wife of Major-General

Gustavus H. B. Milmau, late R. A. The writer of these lines,

who, for over a quarter-of-a-century, had enjoyed the friendship

of Lady Berkeley, can testify to her true love and care for

feathered creatures. O. E. C.



CORRESPONDENCE.



NOTE FROM THE EDITOR.


I am anxious, in an early number which appears under my editorship,

to explain the reason which prompted me to undertake this responsible

office.


For five years the Magazine has been conducted with much success

by two of the founders of our Society. To very many members (I know

well), to myself among them, it has at once been a source of much pleasure

and has conveyed valuable knowledge. Without it I doubt if our Society

would long exist. On Mr. Fillmer’s regretted resignation, for mouths no

successor could be found to undertake the onerous work which he had

done, as at once Secretary and Editor, and it seemed as if the affairs of the

Society must necessarily be wound up. To many of us this would have

been a source of much regret. The numbers of the .Society have always

been on the increase ; this, and the fact that subscriptions are, on the

whole, regularly paid, seemed to me evidence that the Society was fulfilling

the objects for which it was founded.


Under these circumstances, I offered to be co-Secretary if another

member would share the work. Eventually arrangement was made that

Mr. Bonliote should undertake the secretarial work, and that I alone should

edit the Magazine. I undertook to do so, full}' conscious of the fact that I

have neither the knowledge of aviculture, nor the acquaintance with

aviculturists of 1113' predecessors, simply, as it seemed to me, to save the

Society from collapse.


There are one or two points to which I venture to call the attention

of members.


1. It is necessar}' that “copy” intended for one month’s Magazine

should reach me not later than in the earliest days of the previous month.

My predecessors both lived near the Printers and in a town with great

postal conveniences. I live 200 miles from the Printers ; have but one post

on week-days, and none on Sunda\'s. That the “proofs” may be duly

forwarded for correction to the authors, and to all the members of the

Executive Committee, it is absolutel)' necessary that they should be in type

earl\' in the month.


2. I venture to ask for contributions from a still wider circle among

our members than have hitherto written for the Magazine. On re-reading



