Editorial.



97



should deal primarily with the subject of Aviaries, and how best

to plan and lay them out for different species of birds. I would

much like to have the opinions of our members on this sug¬

gestion, and would also be glad to receive offers of contributions

on the subject from both those members who have been fortunate

enough to have, through success, learnt what to aim at, and also

from those who, after many trials and failures, have learnt at any

rate what to avoid.


I think the subject should prove a good one, and informa¬

tion derived from experience is always useful and of the utmost

value to those who are just commencing to go through the mill.

I suppose we can all of us remember the care and devotion spent

in our early avicultural days on buildings and cages, which have

afterwards turned out hopelessly unsuitable and disheartening,

and when we realize how easily we might have avoided waste

of money and time, we shall welcome the opportunity of enabling

others to take advantage of our knowledge. Even the expert is

not too old to learn, if he or she is a wise expert, and I think an

interchange of ideas of this very important part of aviculture

might prove of great advantage to one and all.


There is one other matter I would like to mention. In the

list of members it would seem that our numbers ate lower than

they were at this time last year, but in reality this is not so.

Our membership has increased, but on our books were the names

of certain numbers who had ceased to pay their subscription

but who had not sent in their resignation. Several of these had

gone abroad and not sent their change of address, and we have

considered them dormant, but after a due allowance of time we

have now removed their names, and if they wish to rejoin they

must pay a fresh entrance fee.


Financially, we are in a better state than we have been

for some time. At the beginning of the year a member most

generously offered to be responsible for any deficit we might

have up to ^io, and I am glad to say we have not been obliged

to call upon him for a single shilling. Nevertheless, there is no

denying that an addition of another fifty members would place

us in a very much more comfortable position, and those members



