PREFACE 



The fourth volume of the Eighth Series of ' The 

 Ibis,' making the forty-sixth of the whole work, is 

 now complete. It would seem, therefore, that the 

 motto chosen for the Fourth Series of this journal, 

 " Ibis avis robusta et multos vivit in annos," was 

 prophetic and has fully justified its use. 



We may, moreover, fairly take the increase of 

 general interest in Ornithology to be fully proven by 

 the yearly additions to the roll of the British Ornith- 

 ologists' Union, which now, as shown by the new 

 List of Members, includes upwards of four hundred 

 names. Another proof of the widespread apprecia- 

 tion of our favourite science is given by the difficulty 

 now experienced in obtaining a complete set of 

 ' The Ibis.' 



The Editors thank their many friends most heartily 

 for their much appreciated contributions, but still 



