An Original Member—Early Days of the Avicultural Society 3


fine type of East Anglian yeoman. Mr. W. Swaysland, the author of

the British bird section of Cassell’s well-known Canaries and Cage

Birds . And Dr. G. C. Williamson, the art critic, who kept a number

of species of Owls, but who is better known as a writer on subjects

other than aviculture.


A circular was issued announcing the formation of the Society,

from which I quote the following. This circular bore the names of all

the Committee.


“ The number of persons, who, in this country, have taken up

the pursuit of Aviculture (that is, the keeping and breeding of

Birds) has very largely increased of late years, and it is believed

that a Society which should afford its members a means of inter¬

changing, and so increasing, their knowledge of this most interesting

pursuit, and of placing this knowledge on a more scientific basis,

would serve a useful purpose.


“ The principal means by which it is proposed to accomplish

this end is by the publication of a monthly magazine, which will

be devoted chiefly to the habits and proper treatment of birds in

captivity, but will also deal with their natural history in a state

of freedom, and will introduce points of scientific ornithology in so

far as they bear on practical aviculture.”


I think it must be admitted that the foundations of the Society

were well and truly laid, and that its purpose and object, as outlined

in the circular, have been adhered to with but little alteration. There

has been great, very great, development and improvement, but no

revolutionary change has been necessary.


The original subscription to the Society was 5s., with an entrance

fee of 2s. 6 d. The monthly copies of the Magazine were priced at

6 d. each.


The first volume of the Avicultural Magazine contained 128

pages, but being printed throughout in smaller type than that now

used, the matter per page was more than double that in a page of the

present Magazine. The first monthly part, that for November, 1894,

consisted of 20 pages, the subsequent parts forming the first volume

were of either 12 or 8 pages each. Only 200 copies were printed of

most of the parts, and the volume has long been out of print.



