Report of Council Meeting.



287



THE FEATHER AS A LIVING UNIT.


By Allen Silver.


Concerning the much debated point of feathers being “stop-

cocked ” when once complete, one is hardly in a position to make

assertions on the point without having living birds under close exam¬

ination. Eliminating colour appearances, variable according to the

aspect in which the bird is viewed or caused by feather arrangement,

how is it that a freshly moulted bird is nearly always paler than it

was before the moult? Allowing time for the full growth of feather

and the slight abrasion which takes place in some cases ; by the

breeding season the colouring is always (if the bird is in health)

appreciably different in tone, including birds which have not a

special breeding dress. How is it that one of the first signs of real

illness and also of prospective moult is dulness, a dulness similar to

that assumed by human hair, which in some cases is peculiarly

noticeable when certain individuals are “off colour”? The birds

may wash and preen, but there is no polish, no tone; and this is

probably due to the fact that at such times mentioned there is a

permanent “cut off.” Again, too, I have noticed, apart from

feather arrangement, prismatic, structural, or metallic colouring,

that dead feathers have not quite the tone of those attached to the

living bird, even before one can bring in the argument of rapid

decomposition. My observations on most newly acquired plumages

causes me to describe them as “ mealy ” in tone, and those about to

be shed, or on sickly birds as dull and toneless, as compared with the

richest period of their growth.



REPORT OF COUNCIL MEETING.


A meeting of the Council was held on Friday, June 28th, at

the offices of the Zoological Society. There were present: Mr.

Meade-Waldo (Chairman), Miss Alderson (Hon. Secretary), Mr.

Ezra (Hon. Treasurer), Dr. Graham Renshaw (Editor), Dr. Amsler,

the Hon. Mrs. Bourke, Miss Chawner, Mr. Pocock, Mr. Seth-Smith.


The minutes of the last meeting (February 27th) were read

and confirmed.



