PEP^FACE. 



We are somewhat pleased to be ab'e to issue the 

 forty-fourth volume of ' The Ibis ' with a hundred 

 pages less than the volumes immediately preceding 

 it, because, as we informed our readers last year, the 

 gradual augmentation in size of the annual volume 

 seemed likely to cause them considerable embarass- 

 ment. At the same time we may say that it has not 

 been found necessary to refuse any desirable contri- 

 butions on the ground of space this year, and that 

 several important articles are already promised for 

 our next number. 



Perhaps it hardly comes within the province of 

 the Editors to specify any particular contribution as 

 entitled to special remark. Nevertheless, we think 

 we may venture to direct the attention of our readers 

 to Mr. William Eagle Clarke's interesting account of 

 his month's residence on the Eddystone Lighthouse, 

 and his study of the phenomena of migration as 



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