Correspondence.



155



of British and Foreign birds in f reedom ” as well as in captivity ; so

that those who have opportunities of observing wild life amongst

birds can write of them in that life.


Send money for the illustration fund.


I will do my best, let others do the same ! And let each

member find a new one.


SPECIAL Notice. —In order to enable the publishers to send

out the Magazine by the 1st of the month, members are asked to

kindly send any advertisements, names of proposed members, etc.,

NOT LATER than the 24th of each month, instead of the 26th.


Hubert D. Astley, Editor.



THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.


At a meeting' of the Council held on February 7th, the

appointment by the Executive Committee of Mr. H. D. Astley as

Editor of the Magazine was confirmed and Mr. B. Thomasset was

elected Treasurer, the two vacancies being caused by the retirement

of Mr. Bonhote, as announced in the January issue of the Magazine.

A cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Bonhote for his past services to the

Society was unanimously passed.


The Balance Sheet for the year 1911-1912, showing a great

improvement in the financial affairs of the Society and duly audited

by Mr. F. W. Farmboroug'h, was submitted. R. I. POCOCK.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, &c.


THE MOULT OP IMMATURE BLACK REDSTARTS.


SIR,—I am interested in Mr. W. E. Teschemaker’s letter in the last issue

on the moult of the Black Redstart (not Blackstart please ! a lazy abbreviation

which is not only incorrect, but might be misleading), but do not quite under¬

stand what he means by his “eclipse plumage at their first autumn moult.”

The young after the first autumn moult ( i.e . in first winter plumage) are darker,

as Mr. Teschemaker points out, than the adult female in nest feather (i.e. in

breeding plumage) ; this is because the latter’s plumage is worn and faded,

whereas that of the bird in autumn is fresh. Mr. Teschemaker refers to the

spring moult of this species ; so far as I am aware the Black Redstart, like the

common Redstart, has no spring moult.



