The Cost of Ringing
This ridiculous sum, as Mr. Micawber used to say, is one small item, though very important, in the cost of the scheme.
Seven sizes of rings have to be manufactured, and carefully manufactured. There is a vast and most various corre- spondence over recoveries of birds both at home and abroad. (Swallows ringed north of Aberdeen have been found in Griqualand to give one example of the range.) The collation and indexing of many details requires skilled clerks, though one amateur helper, a lady, spends immense time and labour in supervision. The printing of schedules, notices and recovery announcements is a heavy expense. The price of three farthings for every ring issued is high for those who have the opportunity of ringing large numbers, but it does not nearly cover the total cost. In Prussia the Government pays for the whole cost of administration of the scheme ; and in America (where Mr. Jack Miner's successes enjoyed an immense vogue) large sums of money have been provided from private sources. If Mr. R. M. Loekley of Skokholni Island, Pembrokeshire, succeeds in collecting more than the 120 necessary for the cage-aviary the surplus will all go to the expenses of the British Bird Ringing Scheme.
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