270 keport — 1884. 



offers unusual chances for birds to break their night, and ultimately, 

 perhaps, to reach the American coast. In the comparatively narrow seas 

 between the European continent and Great Britain birds are frequently 

 noted as alighting on the rigging of vessels and lightships, roosting in 

 the rigffinsr during the night, to resume their flight at the first streak of 

 dawn. 



It is a matter of congratulation that our American and Canadian 

 fellow- workers have instituted a similar system of observation on the 

 migration of birds. At the first Congress of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, held at New York City,* September 20-28, 1883, a Committee on 

 the Migration of Birds was appointed. It is intended to investigate this 

 in all its bearings, and to the fullest possible extent, not only in the 

 accumulation of records of the times of arrival and departure of the 

 different species, but to embrace the collection of all data that may aid in 

 determining the causes which influence migration from season to season. 



Your Committee respectfully request their reappointment, and trust 

 that the Association will enable them to continue the collection of facts. 



Report of the Committee, consisting of Professor Newton (Secretary), 

 Professor Lankestek, and Professor GrAMGEE, appointed for the 

 purpose of preparing a Bibliography of certain Groups of 

 Invertebrata. 



The Committee beg leave to report that the work, compiled by Mr. D'Arcy 

 W. Thompson, B.A., Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge, though not 

 yet completed, is in a forward state. The whole of the part relating to 

 Protozoa, and nearly the whole of that relating to Spongida, have been 

 printed off, while a large portion (Sections A to L inclusive) relating to 

 Ccelenterata is in type, and the remainder is reported by him to be ready 

 for press. 



The Committee cannot but regret the non-completion of the Biblio- 

 graphy by the time originally expected ; but they are satisfied that the 

 delay has been in great measure due to causes which will contribnte 

 largely to the value of the work ; and the Committee have most thankfully 

 to acknowledge the important services to this end kindly rendered by 

 Mr. H. B. Brady, F.B.S., Professor Hackel, Professor Wyatt, of Boston, 

 and Professor Alleyne Nicholson. 



The printing of the work has been liberally undertaken by the Press 

 Syndicate of the University of Cambridge, and it will form a volume of 

 about 800 pages. 



The Committee herewith transmit a copy of the portions already in 

 type (five sheets and twenty-six slips), whence will be perceived the 

 laborious nature of the work, as well as the effective way in which it has 

 been done. 



