PREFACE. 



Notwithstanding the numerous other calls on the 

 attention of Ornithologists during the past twelve 

 months, ' The Ibis ' continues to receive an amount 

 of support quite equal to that of former years. This 

 would seem to indicate that not only is Ornitho- 

 logical Science prospering, but our Journal prospers 

 also. 



It is also satisfactory to observe that the nature of 

 some of the work now in progress gives great hopes 

 that the Classification of birds will ere long be placed 

 upon a sounder basis. The whole organization of 

 birds, upon a knowledge of which alone correct con- 

 clusions can be arrived at, is now being investigated 

 in a manner that bids fair to remove the reproach 

 of shallowness in questions of classification under 

 which our science has not unjustly laboured. 



Having said thus much, we have only to thank 

 our many friends for their contributions, and for 

 material assistance received during our editorship 

 of the present volume. 



O. S. 



32 The Grove, Boltons, Loudon. 

 October 1872. 



