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The War.



spirit, a great enthusiast for the wonderful collection of animals and

birds which he made, a man brimming over with kindly courtesy,

gentleness, and hospitality. To Germans like his sons, Herr August

Fockelmann, and many many others whom we trust will, if they

cannot now, eventually know and realize the whole truth of the

scandalous mode of German warfare ; their estrangement from

England (apart from the great loss to their trade), with the appalling

upheaval brought about by their Kaiser and his war-party must

come as a great shock and sorrow.


We look forward to the day when, with these blood-thirsty

and covetous invaders and their leader crushed down forever, we can

once more resume friendly relations and correspondence with our

bird-loving friends and acquaintances, who will we trust no longer be

units of the German Empire, but peaceful citizens of a better and a

smaller country, able to pursue their various studies and trades in

calmer and brighter years.


In the meanwhile one fears that many bird-dealers in England

will inevitably suffer : indeed we have already heard of one with a

wife and six children who through August was unable to sell his

birds unless it were at very low prices, one who is invariably honest

and upright in all his dealings, and to whom the war will, as to

many others, come as a hard task master.


Another result in detail was that a magnificent collection of live

Humming' Birds arrived safely from South America at Havre, im¬

ported by one of our members, when in the great excitement of finding

that there was war between France and Germany, the poor birds were

neglected and all died on board ship, before they could reach Paris,

much to the chagrin of their owner, as well as to all bird lovers who


have heard about it. -


Articles and Photographs, &c.


The Editor hopes that in spite of the distraction and manifold

employment of abnormal kinds in connection with the war, members

will do their utmost to send him “ copy,” advertisements, &c.,

remembering that if the writing of an article takes up what may

be considered precious time, how much more of such time has the

Editor himself to make use of to keep the Magazine going.


Hubert D. Astley. — Ed.



