EDITORIAL. 
785 
unsupervisecl farms which have sprung up in suitable localities throughout 
the Province and the information to hand seems to indicate that the 
farming of egrets on humane lines is not an impossibility and that the 
cruelty at present practiced could be abolished. The present method of 
‘ plucking’ as observed by Capt. Benson is both cruel and reprehensible. 
The suturing of the eyelids appears to be practiced only by a small 
section of the farmers who are compelled to transfer their establishments 
at seasonal periods. We once more urge upon Government the necessity 
of establishing the proposed enquiry. It will take time as the birds must 
be visited in the middle of the Sind hot weather, July-August, in the cold 
weather and in the early spring, but provided that the right men are sent 
and sufficient time given for a thorough investigation a valuable report 
could be obtained. 
We draw the attention of members to the excellent series of 
articles on the collection and identification of Indian Butterflies by 
Col. Evans the first of which appeared in Vol. XXVIII, No. 2. Col, Evans 
is supplying a very much felt want, i.e., a guide to the budding collector 
and to the recognition of the more common Indian Species. The series of 
articles will be illustrated with black and white photographs of various 
species and will be a great help to a large circle of people who are at 
present prevented from taking up a fascinating study for want of suitable 
and helpful literature. We have already commented on Mr. Hornell’s 
proposed papers on the Common Molluscs and are pleased to announce 
that a popular paper, on similar lines, on Spiders and Dragonflies will 
shortly appear in the Journal — the former by Dr. Gravely and the latter 
by Major Fraser, the two best authorities on the subject in the country. 
The editors of the journal are doing all they can to make their publica- 
tions interesting to those of their readers to whom a recondite scientific 
article is somewhat terrifying. At the same time the scientific aspect of 
our publications must be preserved. The accumulation of knowledge 
by the scientific worker, who places the results of his researches, in 
whatever seemingly unimportant sphere of study he may be engaged, 
within the reach of those that come after him, is helping towards the 
progress of knowledge and those conversant with that progress are 
aware that at any time some apparently insignificant discovery has 
thrown such a flood of light upon certain phenomena as to directly benefit 
the whole progress of our race. 
The Society is striving to meet the wishes of all its members, novices as 
well as experts, and the editors will always be glad to receive from their 
readers any suggestion whereby this publication may be improved or in 
anj’' way tend to become of greater benefit to those to whom it appeals. 
Our readers are aware that this Society is almost entirely maintained 
out of member’s subscriptions and if the high standard of its publications 
is to be continued the source of its income must remain unimpaired. The 
recent unavoidable increase in subscriptions has been to some extent dis- 
counted by a corresponding loss of membership, and the editors hope that 
members will do all they can to help the Society by making its work and 
the advantage it offers, more widely known to their friends. A strong 
membership roll with constant additions to its numbers means to' an 
amateur Society such as ours an increased vitality and a continuity of 
progress in the many spheres of its activity. 
