LVII 



24 March, 19(I(J. 

 My dear 8ir, 



I have to thank you for your letter of tlie 4"' iiist. iiiforiiiiug nie that the extracts 

 I sent from the Journal of the Scottish Meteorological Society were acceptable to you. 

 I now have the pleasure of enclosing herewith a copy of similar Extracts from the other 

 series of observations which have been kindly made for me by Mr. K. T. Omund, the Secre- 

 tary of that Society, and I have to request that if you should make any use of them you 

 will be so good as to acknowledge his assistance, for I myself have not been able to see 

 these other records. With very great esteem, I beg leave to remain. 



Yours most faithfully 



Alfred Newton. 



30 March, 1906. 

 Dear Sir, 



I have to acknowledge with the greatest thanks the receipt of the data relating to 

 Cuculus canorus in Scotland which Mr. R. T. Omund had the kindness to copy, and I shall 

 not fall to mention the cooperation of this gentleman as requested. 



I take I his opportunity to submit you â humble request, from your compliance with 

 which, I hope the development of Ornithophaenology may derive much benefit. 



The progress of this branch of science depends, as far as ils present condition is 

 concerned, on knowledge of the winter-quarters, the arrival say, of the European migrants 

 in Northern Africa, and their start on the return to Europe. 



When I undertook the attempt to record the migration of the Chimney-swallow for 

 Europe, the determination of the time was possible only because on the one hand Howard 

 Irby had noted the 13th February as the exact date of the spring- arrival of this bird at 

 Gibraltar ; and on the other hand I had another record from Lulea — 29th May — where- 

 froni it follows that the birds take 105 days to proceed from Gibraltar to Lulea and that 

 the migration takes place from S. to N. with the isotherm 9'4° C. 



Such results show the immense importance of precisely dated records of place and 

 time, whereas in most faunistic publications this is unfortunately neglected. 



Thus I have just received e. g. the magnificent work of Prof. J. S. Whitakek „The 

 Birds of Tunisia". If in this stress had been laid upon precise data, it would have meant 

 a decided advantage also for Ornithophaenology. But if, as regards the important species 

 Saxicola oenanlhe, it is only said „arriving as a rule after the beginning of March and 

 repassing on its return from the north in September", Ornithophaenology does not derive 

 any benefit from the statement. 



In most cases it would only be a question of relatively little trouble to note and to 

 publish the date on which the naturalist has for the first time got the bird. This would 

 in most cases be of great assistance to the calculating Ornithophaenologist and the value 

 of the publications would increase. 



My humble request therefore is that you will feel induced, to call the attention in an 

 appropriate manner, especially of English naturalists who travel so much, to the importance 

 of exact data. 



Dear Sir, I am aware of the great esteem you enjoy from the whole world of Ornitho- 

 logists and the great weight of your word which is of more force than a whole book, and 

 therefore I have taken the liberty of submitting to you my request. With the assurance of 

 my highest esteem. 



Yours faithfully 



0. H. 



Aquila XVI. Vm 



