146



J. Lambert — O.P.S. Notes



ORNAMENTAL PHEASANT SOCIETY NOTES


During the month of March the membership of the O.P.S. reached ■

the very satisfactory total of 500 and we are naturally proud of this j

achievement. When the Society was first formed it was thought by j

some doubting “ Thomases ” that if we could keep an average of 100

members we should feel satisfied but that pessimistic outlook soon

went by the board, for three months after our formation the century

had “ gone up ”. As this may be considered a landmark for the O.P.S.

it may be as well roughly to review our work and discover if the Society \

has merited the support received. By propaganda work and by the

extensive use of the Press, and especially is this due to the Avicultural

Magazine and Cage Birds, we have increased the number of Pheasant

fanciers by at least 50 per cent, probably the percentage is far greater.

That in itself is highly satisfactory. We have established the showing

of Pheasants and the results of this activity, although not obvious,

must in time prove beneficial to our hobby, as birds of such beautiful

plumage are bound to make an appeal to a larger public sooner or later.

By the formation of the O.P.S. there has been a happy and sincere

exchange regarding the best methods of keeping and rearing these birds.

In this matter our Journal has been a direct method and perhaps

even more important still it has caused many members to correspond

and this has produced an interchange of thoughts regarding the culture.

In one respect the Society cannot yet claim a success. We had hoped

to import for the benefit of our members many rare Pheasants and such

importations would have been carried out under ideal conditions,

the procedure was well in hand but we did not meet with the support

that we anticipated. A reason for this may be found in the fact that

under the scheme members were asked to find 50 per cent of the money

before the birds were shipped and this undoubtedly proved unpalatable

to many. We shall try again, I feel sure, and make the scheme more

“ appetizing We must not forget the social side of our activities.

Our two general meetings are well attended and these functions prove

not only interesting but many lasting friendships have been made as a

direct result of members coming together in this social manner. I



