with it a better quality, but it is satisfactory to 

 observe that the communications to our periodical 

 have not Mien off in number, and that there is 

 no lack of novelties for illustration. The bulk of 

 our volume is, in fact, now such that any further 

 increase would be attended by a certain amount of 

 disadvantage. 



As regards the contents of the present Series, we 

 do not maintain that they surpass in value the writings 

 of such famous Ornithologists as Blakiston, Blyth, 

 Gurney, Hartlaub, Salvin, Seebohm, Swinhoe, Tris- 

 tram, and Wallace, who all contributed papers to 

 the First Series. But an impartial examination will, 

 we think, render it evident that the Ornithologists of 

 the present generation can supply us with papers of 

 undoubted worth, while it must be remembered that 

 at the present day, when the avifauna of the world is 

 so much better known, it would be vain to expect 

 articles of quite the same description as when " the 

 world was young." 



It is in the full hope of receiving the same con- 

 tinual and active support of our Members as has 

 been hitherto accorded to us that we have agreed to 

 undertake the responsible task of editing the new 

 (Ninth) Series of this Journal, which will commence 

 on the first of January next. 



P. L. S. 1 

 A. H. E.i 



3 Hanover Square, 



London, W., 



September 14th, 1906. 



