214 Letters, Announcements, ^c. 



1885 £30 in aid of the expenses incidental to tlie enquiry. 

 Six reports have already been issued by the Committee^ and 

 a seventh is now in course of preparation. 



About 200 stations on the coasts of Great Britain and 

 Ireland, and the outlying islands, as well as several foreign 

 stations, are annually supplied with letters of instruction 

 and printed schedules for registering the occurrence of 

 birds. 



The work of distributing these circulars, the constant 

 correspondence with the observers, the tabulation and re- 

 cording of each separate entry and subsequent writing of 

 the report entail a great amount of labour, and from the 

 increasing interest taken in the enquiry, as indicated by the 

 number of well-filled schedules sent in, there is every 

 prospect of the work being much heavier in the future. 



It is highly desirable that the observers should be supplied 

 with some means of forwarding the wings and feet of any 

 birds killed against the lanterns of the lighthouses and light- 

 ships, as well as small specimens entire. Unless this is 

 systematically done, no really accurate results of the species 

 on migration can be arrived at. 



Unfortunately, the funds at the disposal of the Committee 

 are totally inadequate to meet the annually increasing and 

 heavy demands made upon it, and in the last year the ex- 

 penditure amounted to jfi74 13^. lOd., the receipts (including 

 the Grant made by the British Association) to £SG 10s. Od., 

 leaving a balance of £38 3*. lOd. to be made good by the 

 members of the Committee. 



On these grounds, therefore. Donations or Annual Sub- 

 scriptions are earnestly invited from those taking an interest 

 in the subject. Should you be inclined to contribute to the 

 funds of the Committee, I shall be glad if you will fill up and 

 return to me the enclosed form, or otherwise intimate your 

 intention to me at your earliest convenience. 



I am, dear Sir, 



Faithfully yours, 



John Cordeaux, 

 Secretary to the Committee. 



