Report of the Council.



v.



national Ornithological Congress held in London during the

month of June. Mr. Bonhote then acted as one of the Secre¬

taries for the Congress. It is universally admitted that much of

the success of this important event was due to the excellence of

the arrangements. The Congress was attended by many officers

and other members of this Society. Mr. Seth-Smith acted as

official delegate for the Society, and read a paper entitled “The

Importance of Aviculture as an aid to the study of Ornithology.”


We would call attention to the work that has been accom¬

plished by members in recording the breeding habits of species

which are not known to have bred in captivity in this country

before : the Rev. C. D. Farrar has successfully reared young of

the White-throated Finch ( Spermophila albigularis) ; Sir William

Ingram, Bart., the Bare-throated Francolin {Pternistes leiicoscepus),

and Mr. D. Seth-Smith the Varied Bustard Quail (Tumix varici)

and the Australian Swamp Quail ( Syncectis australis). Mention

may also be made of the breeding of some interesting hybrids ;

Dr. Buteer has reared a hybrid Ouzel between Merula boulboul

and M. merula; Mr. Fasey, hybrid Parrakeets between Platy-

cercus elegans and Barnardius semitorquatus ; and Mr. Seth-Smith

hybrid Song - Sparrows between Zonotrichia leucophrys and Z.

pileata ; while a Duck, bred this year by Mr. Bonhote contains

the blood of no less than five species, viz., Anas boseas, melleri ,

pcecilorhyncha, superciliosa, and Dafila acuta, an event hitherto

unknown in the annals of hybridism.


We would urge our members to do their best to persuade

all their friends who may be interested in birds to join the

Avicultural Society.


Finally our thanks are due to the members of the

Executive Committee, who have worked hard to promote the

welfare of the Society.



R. Aecerson.



Arthur Gill.

D. Hamilton.

T. H. Newman.

W. T. Page.



A. F. L. Berteing.

F. L. Blathwayt.



J. L. Bonhote.

A. G. Buteer.



D. Seth-Smith.

G. E. Sheleey.



O. E. Cressweee.

C. D. Farrar.



