192 Letters, Extracts, anil Notes. 



Some details of this careful piece of work may be noted, 

 for they are very instructive. From Galveston (855 miles 

 away) three birds returned out of ten, taking from about 

 six to about twelve days ; two Noddies liberated at 720 

 miles both returned, taking between eleven and seventeen 

 days ; out of ten birds liberated at 585 miles eight returned, 

 taking from about four to about eight days ; out of four 

 Noddies and four Sooties liberated in open water 461 statute 

 miles away, two Noddies returned in three days ; of twelve 

 taken north to Mobile, only one returned, taking about 

 seven days ; two Noddies and two Sooties carried in a state- 

 room to Havana and released in the harbour there early in 

 the morning of July 11, returned to Bird Key on the 12th, 

 the distance in a straight line being about 108 statute miles ; 

 of three Noddies and two Sooties liberated off Cape Hatteras 

 (850 miles to the north), both of the latter and at least one 

 of the former species returned after several days. "The 

 alongshore route, which is the one in all probability chosen 

 by the birds on their return, since they were gone several 

 nights, is approximately 1081 statute miles." (It seems 

 that the birds almost never rest on the water, unless they 

 happen to find pieces of driftwood or the like.) The records 

 show that the Tei-ns often take as long for short distances 

 as for long distances, and that a return from the open sea 

 outside of all landmarks is just as practicable as a return 

 from a coast. 



Notice to B.O.U. Members. — Members are reminded that 

 the Annual Subscription to the Union, due on Januaiy 1st, 

 is now One Pound Five Shillings, and the Secretary will be 

 glad to receive same as early as possible. 



A form of proposal for candidates for membership of 

 the Union will in future be inserted in every issue of the 

 ' Ibis.' If a member has anyone to propose for election 

 at the Annual General Meeting, which will be held on 

 March 12, 1916, the form should be duly filled up and 

 returned to the Secretary, B.O.U., c/o Zoological Society, 

 Regent's Park, N.W., before the 31st of January. 



