published about this important subject in connection witli 

 South Africa. In Sclater's work we find, under the de- 

 scription of each species, the words : " the following are the 

 recorded localities ''; the names of those localities are given, 

 but only in a few cases is the date recorded at which the 

 specimens were observed or secured. 



Now I have interviewed several of our leading local 

 ornithologists about this question, and have asked them 

 whether they could inform me if such and such a bird 

 migrates north, south, east, or west ; whether from the 

 highveld to the bushveld, or vice versa ; whether certain 

 birds migrate every year, or migrated in one year and were 

 more stationary in other years, under perhaps more favourable 

 climatic and meteorological conditions. I am sorry to say 

 that my own ignorance on this subject was not only not 

 relieved, but I received so often such absolutely contradictory 

 evidence and information that I have come to the conclusion 

 that South African ornithologists have overlooked this subject 

 altogether, and are hopelessly incapable at present of giving 

 much reliable information. 



You will all agree wdth me that it is not only desirable, but 

 absolutely imperative, that we should try to make an end to 

 this most unsatisftictory state of affairs. The only way out of 

 the difficulty is to follow the example set by Hungary in this 

 matter — the mode of operation being explained by Otto 

 Herman, the Director of the Hungarian Central Office of 

 Ornithology, in his yearly report. In 1808 more than 

 5900 masters of elementary schools and others also interested 

 in the subject decided to observe the arrival of the Swallows 

 and to report the result of their observation to the Central 

 Ornithological Office. These observers, in all more than 

 6000 in number, covered the whole area of Hungary very 

 effectually. They sent in their data on special postcards ; 

 the points of observation were geographically determined, 

 and daily separately schematized on particular card maps. 



In the same way I should like to cover South Africa. 

 I should like to circularize all the Members of the Union, 

 and all others known to be interested in Ornithology in 



