4 An Original Membei—Early Days of the Avicultural Society



The contents of the first number are not very different in character

from that of the present Magazine. In this first part we find an

article by Dr. Butler “ On Aviculture in Aviaries ”, A paper on the

Skua entitled “ The Waterfall Pirate at Home ” by Dr. Williamson.

One by Reginald Phillipps called “ My Bird Room ”. The beginning

of a series on “ Rare Foreign Birds ”. Notes on “ Our Winter Visitors ”

by Walter Swaysland. “ Egg-production and Egg-binding ” by

Dr. Simpson. And some reviews, notes, and correspondence.


Many who became prominent and valued members joined the

Society in its first year, and were practically “ original members ”,

though not so called. Among them were Messrs. David Seth-Smith,

J. Lewis Bonhote, E. G. B. Meade-Waldo, F. Finn, and C. L. Rothera,

and the Rev. H. D. Astley.


Volume II (1895-6) consists of 191 pages. The articles are printed

in larger type, the original small type being retained for the corre¬

spondence pages. Dr. Simpson, who edited the first two volumes,

resigned the hon. secretaryship in October, 1896, and was succeeded

by Mr. Fillmer. Notable contributors to this volume were J. Lewis

Bonhote, Dr. A. G. Butler, Charles L. Rothera, John Sergeant, the

Rev. H. D. Astley, 0. E. Cress well, C. S. Simpson, Reginald Phillips,

E. G. B. Meade-Waldo, R. A. Todd, H. J. Fulljames, D. Seth-Smith,

Mrs. Leslie Williams, the Rev. C. D. Farrer, Aug. F. Wiener, and

W. H. St. Quintin. In two years the membership of the Society had

increased from 52 to 173.


Vol. Ill saw the introduction of illustrations, there being four hand-

coloured plates and two or three in black and white. An extra charge

of 5s. per annum was made for the coloured plates, but these plates

were also issued uncoloured without extra charge. The number of

pages rose to 212. The coloured plates, all from drawings by Frohawk,

represented the Pine Grosbeak, the Ornamented Lorikeet, the Blue¬

winged Green Honeysucker, and the Diamond Dove.


Volume IV, like its predecessor, contains four hand-coloured plates,

the birds depicted being the Chinese Quail, the Golden-shouldered

Parrakeet, the White-eared Grass Finch, and the Chinese Zosterops.

Two of these were by Frohawk and two by P. J. Smit. In addition

to contributions from those who had written before, this volume



