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South Africa, asking them to distribute circulars and post- 

 cards to all teachers in the different districts of the various 

 Colonies in South Africa, urging them to cooperate. All 

 that they would have to do is to note on these postcards 

 once a day, or even once a week, which species of birds 

 come under their observation, dead or alive, and to send 

 those postcards to me as soon as filled in — say, once a week, 

 or once a month. By comparing all these many reports 

 it would be possible to determine respectively the last and 

 the first day of observation of a certain species in a certain 

 area; and by continuous records wo might be able to 

 discover which birds are migrating, in what directions they 

 migrate, and when they return to their old haunts. 



Many of you must also have noticed that some, species 

 are much more common during one summer than during 

 the next. I remember that three years ago hundreds of 

 Orti/gosjn-a polyzona (Bar-breasted Weaver Finch) were 

 offered for sale by boys who caught them in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Pretoria, whilst in the following year hardly a 

 single specimen was seen. The same is the case with the 

 Blue-breasted Waxbill, the Latham's or the Red-billed 

 Weaver Bird, the Black-faced Waxbill, and the Common 

 Waxbill. Four years ago we received a large number of 

 Pyrrlmlauda verticalis (Grey-backed Lark), the following 

 two years none ; last year, all of a sudden, they were again 

 plentiful, whilst not one has come under my observation 

 during this year. These phenomena must have causes ; and 

 I think it is entirely within the scope of our Union to find 

 out these causes and effect practical work of this character. 



It is a well-established fact that meteorological conditions 

 have an enormous influence on the migration of birds, and it 

 is therefore exceedingly desirable that notes should l)e taken 

 and entered upon the cards as to the direction of the wind, 

 prevalence of rain, &c., when the entries are being made. 

 The task is not a light one, and can only be accomplished by 

 the diligent cooperation of all those that are interested in tliis 

 fascinating subject ; and I believe that the small amount of 

 money which would be necessary for the printing of these 



