188 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Mr. More such notes as they can, both from their own personal observations, 

 or from any other reliable sources. It is proposed to commence with the 

 Birds, and to note, under the head of each species, whether it is numerous 

 or rare, increasing or decreasing, local or generally distributed ; whether it 

 breeds in the country, or formerly did so ; whether it is a regular summer 

 or winter visitant, or straggler of rare occurrence. In the case of a rare 

 bird, the date and all particulars of its capture are requested. The skin, 

 however roughly preserved, should be retained as a means of identification, 

 and the name of the collector or collection where the specimen is to be 

 seen should be given ; for, above all, it will be necessary that every species 

 should be identified beyond a doubt. In drawing up a local list, no species 

 should if possible be omitted, as the range in Ireland of some birds is not 

 yet well ascertained, but contributors not prepared to enumerate every 

 species may still supply useful information concerning some. The names 

 of all those who contribute information will in every case be acknowledged. 

 Tt is requested that all communications be addressed to A. G. More, Esq., 

 F.L.S., Museum of Science and Art, Kildare Street, Dublin. — Signed, 

 R. M. Barrington (Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow), A. G. Moue, J. D. Ogilby 

 (Altnachree, Strabane, Co. Tyrone), R. J. Ussher (Cappagh, Lismore, Co. 

 Waterford), Robert Warren (Moyview, Ballina, Co. Mayo). 



The Ornithological Congress at Vienna. — This International Con- 

 gress, to which we referred in our last number (p. 139), was duly inaugurated 

 by the Crown Prince, Rudolph, who made an opening speech, in which he 

 dwelt upon the great importance of those studies in Natural History which 

 characterise the present century, an observation doubtless intended as a 

 reply to the attack on modern science recently made in the Austrian 

 Parliament by the clerical Deputy Greuter. The Congress was attended by 

 ornithologists from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Holland, 

 Sweden, and Russia, and even from Siani and Japan ; but, strange to say, 

 there were no delegates from England. Considering the leading part taken 

 by our countrymen in ornithological science, by whom, it may be said, all 

 the best monographs of the day have been written, and the leading 

 ornithological journal founded, it is a little remarkable that no steps were 

 taken to ensure the attendance of some representative or representatives 

 from this country. It seems to us that the occasion demanded it, and 

 delegates from the British Museum, the Zoological Society of London, and 

 the British Ornithologists' Union might easily have been nominated to 

 represent these several institutions, and to take part in the deliijerations 

 of the Congress on matters of interest to ornithologists all the world over. 

 We have yet to receive a report of the proceedings. 



British Animals at the British Museum. — The arrangement of the 

 British collection at the new Natural History Museum has been com- 



