PREFACE. 



In presenting this sixth volume, the Editor has, as usual, to 

 make many apologies for having done much that he ought 

 not to have done, and for having left undone much that he 

 ought to have done. 



Clearly it is not the correct thing to bring out a whole year's 

 numbers of a magazine at once in one volume. 



Still more clearly it is extremely improper for the Editor 

 to fill that entire volume with his own writings, keeping back 

 numerous far more valuable papers from contributors. 



"What is to be said of such reckless disregard of the 

 proprieties? Meliora videor proboque, deteriora sequort Cer- 

 tainly not ! Simply that circumstances were too strong for the 

 unhappy Editor. 



Nearly the whole of this volume has been in type since the 

 1st of last December. The Printer insisted on printing it 

 off— Collectors in Tenasserim protested that they must, and 

 would, have a book on the birds of the province to help them, or 

 they would leave off collecting. It seemed best to give the 

 whole list in one volume, better far than dividing it into 

 several. Even after excising all about nidification, it fills an 

 entire volume. 



Nolens volens, therefore, other contributions had to be kept 

 back, but the publication of Vol. VII will commence at onee, 

 and probably during the present and next year, three volumes 

 will be published instead of two. 



