Bibliographical Notices. 41 7 



The Ibis, a Magazine of general Ornithology. Edited by PHILIP 

 LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A. Vol. I. Triibiier and Co., 1859. 



THE taste for Ornithology naturally arises from the sporting in- 

 stincts of an Englishman. It is the love of shooting developed in 

 a scientific direction. Nor could there easily be mentioned any 

 other pursuit which combines in itself so many advantages as does 

 a love of Birds and of Bird Lore, whether as a serious study or as a 

 healthful and instructive recreation. 



The geologist justly boasts his familiarity with mountain-climbing 

 and with mountain scenery the wide range of his studies his broad 

 views of science ; yet the study of birds is more inviting still, as it 

 springs more instinctively, and there is a charm in living Nature far 

 beyond the delight in stones. And surely their prizes are well won 

 by those who have braved alike the sun of Africa, or snows of 

 Lapland, or pestilent tropic marsh. 



No wonder that the Bird-men of England should claim a journal 

 of their own. Entomologists have long enjoyed the privilege ; and 

 when the scarcely more numerous class of Botanists have several 

 publications, it has always been a matter of surprise to us that the 

 Ornithologists had none. 



Therefore it was with no small pleasure that we hailed the birth of 

 the ' Ibis/ We have watched its progress with much interest ; and 

 now that the results of the first year are before us, we must say that 

 the new journal is very creditable to the contributors, besides being 

 a really valuable accession to scientific literature. 



It is to the enterprise of a club or fraternal union of zealous 

 young Cantabs that we owe the 'Ibis.' Among the well-known 

 names which we recognize, not the least is that of poor John Wolley, 

 whose graphic delineations of the habits and haunts of his favourites 

 must be fresh in the memory of all English lovers of birds. A sad 

 blow is his early death to the little band who first projected the 

 undertaking ; as great a loss to those who have always followed his 

 pen with so much delight. But there is no want of writers when we 

 find contributions from so many different countries, all showing no 

 mean zeal and care in observation. The high names of Sclater, 

 Knox, Eyton, Hewitson, Newton, Gurney, Salvin, Tristram, &c., 

 bring their reputation to the new magazine ; while those who have 

 their spurs yet to win seem determined not to be left behind in 

 the race. 



It has been objected in certain quarters that there was no need of 

 an 'Ibis.' In answer to this we would simply ask, where could 

 such a collection of papers have found room ? Again, would 

 they ever have been written at all? would the expeditions nar- 

 rated have been undertaken without some such stimulus and bond of 

 fraternity ? 



It is true that the cultivators of foreign Ornithology are few in 

 number. But it does not appear that the 'Ibis* can be con- 

 sidered wanting in interest to the purely " British " Ornithologist who 

 only knows ' Yarrell's British Birds.' Surely such a one may with 



Ann. $ Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. v. 28 



