382 



REPORT OX THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



ful impetus to the furtherance of the iuvestigatious. Circulars were 

 distributed in most countries and observations collected, as appears 

 from the following- short summary. 



Eegarding the observations from Germany (including Austria-Hun- 

 gary, 1881-'82), the following notices are rakeu from the annual reports 

 which appeared in the Journal filr Ornithologie: 



* Ready for the press. 



The first annual reports (1876-'81) contain only the special observa- 

 tions. In accordance with J\Ir. E. F. von Homeyer's wish {Journ.f. 

 Ornith., 1880, p. 357), a general volume lias since 1882 been sent in ad- 

 vance, wherein, by bringing forward some examples, a picture has been 

 given of the time of migration of the year in question. To this gen- 

 eral description of the migration was added a short review of the me- 

 teorological incidents of the year with reference to their influence upon 

 the course of the migration. 



The observations were at first made for each species, mainly with 

 reference to the biological i)henomena (arrival, breeding, dei^arture, 

 wintering). The new impetus of the year 1884 brought changes in 

 this respect also. Tlie necessity for editing in a simpler manner the 

 increasing mass of observations became apparent. The geographic 

 arrangement of the notices was chosen, by which at the same time 

 local faunas were restored. To facilitate inquiries, the countries were 

 arranged in alphabetical order, with all their greater political depend- 

 encies. 



Since 1886 it has been the intention of the committee to construct 

 maps showing the geographical distribution of the birds of Germany. 

 Such maps have already appeared relating to three species {Corvus 

 comix, G. corone, C. frufjUegus; prepared by iVIatschie). The committee 

 also intends to establish the migration routes of certain birds in the 

 German territory. 



At the annual meeting in September, 1888 [Jonrn. f. Oynith., 188J), 

 p. 00), the instructions for observers were somewhat changed, and 

 drawn up again as clearly and briefly as possible. The observations 

 relating to this matter, especially m tlie KiiTgdoni of Saxony, are edited 



