My dear Sir, 



LIX 

 7 April, 190G. 



I am much gratified from your obliging letter of 30 Marcii that you are pleased with 

 Mr. Omund's extracts from the Report made to the Scottish Meteorological Society which 

 1 iiad the honour of sending to you. 



It is of course greatly to be desired that all observations in Natural History should 

 be of the most precise character, but I fear 1 cannot exert my influence on those who 

 record the appearance of migratory birds to be more particular, and it must be borne in 

 mind that it often happens that good obseners are occasionally prevented by absence, or 

 the interference of sjiecial duties from noting the actual day of arrival, or perhajis one 

 should say the first appearance of a migrant in any given neighbourhood, so that in the 

 long run practical accuracy may be as well attained by recording the week in which the 

 first appearance is noted as the exact day on which this species was first seen or heard, 

 for it really may have arrived a day or two i)efore it was actually observed. The majority 

 of observers are unable to devote their whole time to the making of observations and 

 engagements of one kind or another may stand in the way of their repairing to the 

 very spot — perhaps the only s])ot in the district visited by the bird on its arrival. Hence 

 1 think it is always necessary to allow for what may be metaphysically called the „personal 

 equation" of the observer, however that may be caused; and for myself, I do not attach 

 very great value to records profering to give the exact day on wiiich any species was first 

 obsen-ed, knowing by my own experience the obstructions that so often present themselves, 

 and are not to be overcome by any increase of care. This is much to be regretted true so 

 it is. and with very high esteem". I remain, my dear Sir, 



Yours most faitfully 



Alfred Newton. 



23 Decembf-r, 1906. 



Pray accept my thanks for your „Remarques" in reply to the „Notes" of Dr. Quinet, 

 and, with them, my best wishes for the new year. 



Alfred Newton. 



1 May, 1907. 

 My dear Sir, 



I have read with great interest and much profit the work you so kindly sent me a 

 few days ago, the receipt of which I at once acknf>wledged ; but if you will allow me so 

 to say it has been written under a misconception of the objects which prompted the original 

 pronuiters of Birdprotectiim in the British Islands, and on this point I venture to speek 

 with authority since J was the first (1868 9) to bring the subject before the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Sciences, and the earlier Acts of Parliament dealing 

 with it were framed by the Close Time Committee appointed by that Association, of which 

 Committee I was for some years the Chairman. 



vm* 



