PREFACE. 



Again the proprietors of ' The Ibis ' have the pleasure 

 of tendering their best thanks to all those who have 

 assisted them in carrying on the Magazine. At the same 

 time they must express their regret at not receiving from 

 their own countrymen at home more communications 

 respecting the birds of the British Islands. While the 

 ornithology even of the most remote regions of the globe 

 is engaging the increased attention of both travellers 

 and resident naturalists, there seems to be some ground 

 for fearing lest the labourers in the more limited field 

 afforded by our native birds should slacken their efforts, 

 and allow this branch of the study to fall behind, when 

 compared with the rapidly advancing researches of their 

 more enterprising brethren. 



Since the last volume of * The Ibis ' was published, a 

 meeting of the British Ornithologists' Union has been 

 held, at which Mr. A. R. Wallace (having returned 

 among us with the intention of permanently residing in 

 the United Kingdom) has been elected an Extra-Ordinary 

 Member, and the vacancy thus caused among the Hono- 

 rary Members of the 'Union' has been filled by the 

 election of Mr. Robert Swinhoe. 



PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER 



{Editor). 

 11, Hanover Square, 

 Sept. 12th, 18G3. 



