2 An Original Membei—Early Days of the Avicultural Society


Avicultural Society. The originator of this U.K.F.C.B.S. was

Mr. William Osbaldeston, who was also, during its whole existence,

hon. secretary and editor of its “ Notes ”. He was a north countryman,

with plenty of zeal and energy, but of rather scanty education and

without journalistic ability. The paper issued under his editorship

often recorded interesting facts, and was not deficient in humour of

the unconscious sort, but it had very obvious limitations. Messrs.

Simpson and Fillmer offered to assist Mr. Osbaldeston in his editorial

work, but their offer was declined. They then felt at liberty to start

a new Society, with the knowledge that it must inevitably supersede

the U.K.F.C.B.S., which it speedily did. The old Society was formally

absorbed into the Avicultural in June, 1895. But all honour belongs

to Mr. Osbaldeston for originating an idea which he could not personally

develop.


There was another society, the “ Cage Bird Club ”, which had an

influence on the beginnings of the Avicultural Society. It had been

formed a year or two earlier, its originator and inspirer being Mr. W. H.

Betts. The purpose of the Cage Bird Club was to provide a meeting

ground for the more cultured section of bird-keepers. It had a guinea

subscription, held its meetings in a high-class London hotel, and

printed its Transactions for circulation amongst its members.


Unfortunately its appeal was very limited and it was inevitably

exposed to accusations of snobbishness. In spite of the ability with

which the Club was managed by Mr. Betts, its life was short, and

probably the Avicultural Society contributed to its downfall by drawing

away its foreign bird section of members.


The founders of our Society were successful in getting the Countess

of Bective to be the first President, and the Hon. and Rev. F. G. Dutton

(a well-known authority upon Parrots) to be Vice-President. A

provisional Committee was formed, consisting of twelve ladies and

gentlemen besides the Hon. Secretary, C. S. Simpson, and the Hon.

Treasurer, H. R. Fillmer. Among the twelve, besides Dr. Butler,

Mr. Phillipps, and Mr. Betts, mentioned above, were the following :

Mr. H. T. T. Camps, who for many successive years judged the Parrot

section at the Crystal Palace Show and who was the owner of a large

and choice collection of the larger Parrots and Cockatoos. He was a



