Editorial. 
133 
"The real problem, is the cause of variations and mutations, or in other 
words, how species originate." 
They support their conclusions, bringing impartially 
together all available facts bearing upon the subject discussed, 
but we must leave further remarks till our next issue. 
To the aviculturist, it will be of great interest, and should 
set him thinking, if so, he will see many ways, in which by 
studying his birds, and the keeping of careful notes, he will be 
able to throw some light upon the intricate, but fascinating 
problem of evolution. We strongly recommend all otir members 
interested in the Origin of Species to procure The Making OF 
Species at once. 
Bird News. This is a new bi-monthly magazine, pub- 
lished by the Avicultural Society of California, edited by F. W. 
D'Evelyn, whom many will remember as a former editor of 
The Condor''' No. 3 of the first Vol. is to hand, and already 
there are signs of progress. No. i consisted of only eight pages; 
the present issue contains twelve pages of interesting articles and 
notes. H. L. Sefton continues his article on " Raising Wild 
Fowl on a Southern Californian Ranch " ; " Protection of Birds 
in Japan"; "Raising Californian Valley Quail " (W. N. Dirks); 
"Humming Birds as House Pets" (Mrs. Emerson-Crowell) ; 
"Commercial Feather 'Breeding' — Ostrich Farming"; and 
"The Pekin Nightingale" (Dr. S. R. Jacob.s). With such 
beginnings we may venture to say that the success of the first 
Avicultural Journal across the Atlantic is assured. We wish the 
Society (a Society with aims similar to our own) all success and 
an increasing sphere of usefulness. 
JEMtonal. 
Live Gentles: are they safe for nestlhigs ? It is a well 
known fact that these have been looked upon with suspicion by 
many aviculturists for some time past, and though evidence at 
present is not by any means conclusive, it would yet appear that 
there are strong grounds for these suspicions. So far as my 
experience goes — which certainly is not great, as living in London 
makes gentle breeding almost an impossibility for me— it leads 
