I have also a pair of Golclen-breasted Waxbills which were purchased

in the summer of 1892, and which must therefore be about seven years old.


Horatio R. Fieemer.



CRIMSON FINCHES.


Sir, —In self-defence I send the following little facts. You will

remember that Mr. Osbaldeston wrote that he had a cock Crimson Finch

that would “clear the deck” of any bird of his own fighting weight.

Unfortunately, just after writing my notes on Crimson Finches, I put a

pair of Blue Bonnets into their aviary—rather anxiously, I confess, for

fear lest the Blue Bonnets should be killed by the Crimson Finches !

Unfortunately, things went the other way, as the cock Blue Bonnet bit the

wing of the cock Crimson Finch and he died.


I at once wrote to Mr. Osbaldeston for his cock just in the hope of

proving my case. I thought if this little savage behaves, surely the Council

will believe me this time. He came late at night and I put him with my

hen. I expedted next morning to find the lady dead and in pieces {vide

members’ statements). On the contrary, Othello was all right and so was

poor Desdemona, and they have continued the very best of friends ever

since ; and if the story ends as it should—happily, they intend to rear a

nest of little termagants for the edification of the Society this summer.


C. D. Farrar.



RESIGNATION OF THE SECRETARY.


In consequence of matters connected with the Society into which it

is unnecessary and undesirable here to enter, I have resigned the Secretary¬

ship.


It is painful to me to sever my official connection with the Society, of

which I am proud to have been one of the founders—but I believe that the

step which I have taken is the right one, both for me and for the Society.


I have now much less spare time than I had when I became Secretary,

and, on the other hand, the work of the Society has increased. I doubt

therefore whether I could, under any circumstances, have continued to hold

the post very much longer.


I wish to express my grateful appreciation of the kindness and

courtesy which I have received from the members during my tenure of

office, and I hope and believe that the change of personnel may be of benefit

to the Society, and that it will grow and prosper even more in the future

than it has done in the past.



Horatio R. Fieemer.



