PREFACE. 



The present volume completes the Fourth Series of 

 ' The Ibis ' and the twenty-fourth of the whole work, 

 and brings about a change in the Editorship of this 

 Journal, such as has usually taken place at the close 

 of each series. 



As arranged at the last Meeting of the Members 

 of the British Ornithologists' Union, held in May last, 

 Mr. Salvin now retires from the position he has held 

 for the last twelve years, and the Fifth Series will be 

 commenced in January next under the Editorship of 

 Mr. Sclater and Mr. Howard Saunders. 



With the roll of the Union steadily increasing 

 in length, and the yearly volumes of ' The Ibis ' 

 growing in bulk, wefc may confidently look forward 

 to a prosperous future for our undertaking and for 

 our favourite science. 



O. S. 



P. L. S. 



British Oraithologists' Union, 



6 Teuterden Street, London, W. 

 December. 1882. 



