148



Correspondence



(3) Now that we have got a really pretty cover designed by a first rate

artist, would it be possible to have it printed on slightly thinner paper ?

because those who like myself bind in all covers and advertisements, which is

the proper way to do, will find the volume getting rather bulky and, owing to

the thick covers, difficult to run through when looking for any particular

advertisement.


Finally, it is very nice to see the Magazine in such a flourishing condition

and I wish it to be known that it is in no carping spirit that I make the above

suggestions to my fellow members whose views would, I think, be useful.


W. H. Workman.



REPLY TO MR. CHAPLIN


Madam, —Mr. Chaplin must have misread my letter: I did not say that I

had no use for Ornithology as a science, but merely that to make our Journal

more scientific than it is at present would not in my opinion have the effect

of increasing its popularity. Surely to encourage the keeping and breeding of

many species of birds in confinement and getting the man in the street

interested in this is a sufficient object. I feel most strongly, that this is far

more interesting to the average person than a magazine which generally

refers to species by their Latin names, and in which plumage descriptions,

for example, would be largely unintelligible to many people : we have other

journals of this type and I for one would seriously consider whether the

Aviculture Magazine was serving any useful purpose were it to alter in the

way your correspondent means. With regard to his remarks anent Mr. Webb,

I am, however, in complete agreement, but may I point out that the latter’s

humane and public spirited action will be fruitless unless we as members do

something. I again from my own experience state that it appears to be nothing

short of blatant cruelty to encourage the importation of many fresh caught

birds from May to September. To take only one very common example, is it

not the experience of pretty well everybody that African Firefinches die like

flies if purchased in these months ? The waste of money being only the least

of the matter. From experience borne out more strongly than ever by some

recently purchased and gloriously fit specimens of this little bird—the only

way to get healthy ones is to buy in the early spring, when apparently over¬

heated cages and water fouled by the birds and then sun warmed, etc., are not

nearly so prevalent in the dealers’ shops—it is naturally a fact that disease

germs multiply greatly in the summer months. I do not think I have ever

been able to keep alive a Firefinch purchased in the summer for more than a

week or two and other Waxbills have been little better. I have decided to

refrain from doing so in future and trust others will follow my example. Then

as suggested last year for goodness sake let us have a series of licensed and

controlled bird shops if possible and it should be. Difficult perhaps.


Finally one other matter needs adjustment if we are really to encourage

the breeding of many birds in captivity I suggest that some of us will have to

bring down our prices. I suggest that to charge £14 to £20 per pair for such

birds as Rosellas and Pennants (unless prize winners) which can be purchased

for a few shillings, I am told, in their native land is not serving the best

interests of aviculture. We want more and more of these birds to be bred.

Then why debar all but a few people from doing so ? There must be many



