PREFACE. 



The year covered by this sixth volume of our Journal 

 has been marked by steady progress rather than by any 

 outstanding event of importance. 



Our numerous contributors have combined to make 

 a volume full of good observations on the breeding and 

 other habits and the distribution of quite a considerable 

 proportion of the birds on the British List. To one 

 and all who have supported us, we may here record our 

 grateful thanks. 



The Marking Scheme, we are glad to say, has taken 

 a further step forward, not only in the number of birds 

 ringed but also in the results achieved by recoveries. 

 Facts have been brought to Hght during the year by 

 means of ringed birds, which clearly demonstrate that 

 the history of the individual bird traced with the help 

 of the ring, is of the greatest assistance in elucidating 

 a number of difficult and important questions. 



We are very glad to note as a result of the publication 

 of our Hand-List, that a number of observations extending 

 our knowledge of distribution have been brought to light, 

 observations which would have remained unrecorded had 

 not the information conveyed in the Hand-List shown 

 them to be of importance. The nomenclature used in 

 that work and now adopted in this Magazine, has met 



