9 6



Editorial.



To be avoided: Full sun when young-, dirty food vessels,

the sudden appearance of strange dogs and cats, guard against

gapes as far as possible and overcrowding and subsequent fouling

of the soil.


All the aviaries should be rat-proof. I have found the

following method of dealing with rats most successful. Stop up

all holes for a night or two to find out which are used, then soak

a small piece of cotton wool with Carbon-Bisulphate, push it as

far down the hole as possible, leave it for two or three seconds

and then drop a match into it, there will follow a small explosion,

instantly block the hole up with a sod, and the inmate (either

rat, stoat or rabbit) will be poisoned by the fumes, care must be

taken not to inhale the fumes while blocking the hole; this

method may be employed with perfect safety in a crowded aviary.



EDITORIAL.



I should like to take this opportunity of tendering my

most hearty thanks to those members who have so considerably

helped me in my Editorial duties during the past year, by pro¬

viding me with such interesting and often valuable “ copy.” In

the list of contributors will be found many names which have

not previously appeared there, as well as many old friends to

whom we are already under obligation. To both we send our

heartiest thanks, and hope they will consider it in the light of

the highest compliment that we unblushingly ask for more !

If only each member of the Society would send in just one article

in the course of the year what a delightfully easy post that of

Editor would become, and what a mass of information on avi¬

culture would be recorded for future bird-lovers!


With the January number of last year we commenced

the series of articles on Practical Bird-Keeping, and, from the

appreciative letters received from our members, I am glad to

know they have been helpful and instructive. We have still two

or three more to add, and then our intention is to publish the

whole as a small Manual of reference.


It has been suggested that the next series of such articles



