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Correspondence



slaughterhouse in operation. It was the same with the little foreigners. One

could see cages containing scores of them, dying from dirt, food poisoning,

and resultant diseases. I own over 200 birds but I would rather have aviculture

prohibited than witness the wholesale cruelty formerly practised by certain

inhuman dealers. In this respect neither the R.S.P.C.A. nor the police have

shown much activity. Personally I should like to see the subscription to our

Society raised in order that a qualified inspector could be permanently

employed upon investigation. Cruelty in capturing and transporting South

African birds resulted in the Col. Reitz Bill prohibiting their exportation.

Like the birds of Miss Muriel Maxwell Jackson my aviary birds seldom leave

the garden after escaping. One cock Wild Canary which has sired three nests

of young this year can be trusted out at any time. He has a good feed of

wild seeds and then demands to be let in.


H. Moore, F.Z.S.



Some aviculturalist more experienced than myself and with pen more

able might well reply to Mr. Webb’s provocative article in the August issue

of the Aviculture Magazine. At the same time I realize that those best

qualified to answer may well be debarred by circumstances. Those whose

income is even in part derived from dealings in birds must be prejudiced,

whilst our well-known experts who keep birds on a large scale cannot be

expected to view with impartiality any threatened interference with their

hobby.


Most interesting and most timely are the views of one so independently

placed as Mr. Webb, whose knowledge and skill in placing on the market

exotic rarities in perfect condition is probably unequalled. At the same

time some of his remarks must not go unchallenged, if only because they are

unfair and may some day be produced as evidence against our hobby.


For my own part I am but a dabbler. My few birds are kept for the pleasure

they give me, for the joy of domesticating them, of studying their heaven-sent

beauty, hearing their joyous song, and for the delight that possession of any

beautiful living thing brings to a lover of nature. That I have shown a few

birds occasionally is but that others may share some of my pleasure, to show

some proud possession, or to make comparisons of my own methods with those

of other fanciers who can meet together only at such shows. This, I verily

believe, is typical of the attitude of the majority of those who keep foreign

birds.


As for making financial gain out of showing birds, I should like Mr. Webb

to tell me even how to make it pay its way ! A rapid calculation will prove

that all the prizes offered during the show season would not suffice to provide

the requisite collection of birds, house and keep them, and pay for travelling

expenses. The exhibition of foreign birds costs their owners money. All

honour to them that they are willing to bear the cost of showing their treasures

to others—and not least, remember, to the general public.


The keeping of birds is educational and has psychological value. To children

the hobby teaches not only geography and allied subjects, but also the

importance of unselfish kindness to animals, and a deep appreciation of the



