PREFACE. 



When, upon the resignation of Mr. Howard 

 Saunders, I consented to carry on the duties of the 

 Editorship of this Journal for another period of six 

 years, I was under the impression that in the place 

 of my former colleague I should have associated 

 with me some other member of the B. O. U., whose 

 assistance would materially tend to lighten my 

 labours. But upon consulting some of the older and 

 more experienced members of the Union I found that 

 there was a decided concurrence of opinion that it 

 would be better to revert to the original system of 

 having only one responsible Editor. To this expres- 

 sion of feeling I agreed, somewhat unwillingly, to 

 defer ; and, in spite of increasing years and the heavy 

 burden of other pressing avocations, I have consented 

 to undertake the sole Editorship of the Sixth Series 

 of ' The Ibis,' as I had formerly that of the First 

 Series. 



During my first year of office, I am pleased to say 

 that I have received from my brother Members 

 of the Committee of the B. O. U. great support 

 in this arduous task. I also wish to acknowledge 

 the material assistance which, as kindly arranged 

 by the Committee, Mr. F. H. Waterhouse, whose 



