362 REPORT— 1897. 



(7) ' That references to previous publications should be made 

 fully and correctly if possible, in accordance with one of the recog- 

 nised sets of rules for quotation, such as that recently adopted by 

 the French Zoological Society.' 



Dr. Paul Mayer, of Naples, writes : ' Most authors are extremely idle 

 in making good lists of literature themselves, and even oppose my correct- 

 ing them according to our rules. There ought to be some training in this 

 at our Universities.' This is confirmed by one or two other editors, but 

 not all have the energy of Dr. Mayer. Some, indeed, oppose the word 

 ' fully ' on the ground that it leads to waste of time and space. The 

 Committee would explain that the reference to a particular set of rules 

 was intended merely as a guide to those who have not had the training 

 that Dr. Mayer would like to see ; they would also point out, in the 

 words of the editor of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, that 

 ' what may be intelligible to the specialist is very puzzling to the general 

 student.' Nowadays, when so many zoologists work with the aid of 

 authors' separate copies, it is an enormous convenience to them to have 

 the title of the paper at least indicated, and not merely the volume, date, 

 and pagination given. The Committee, therefore, cannot agree that this 

 suggestion involves a waste of time. 



Finally, the Committee recommends that copies of this Report be'dis- 

 tributed to the editors of all publications connected with zoology ; and 

 for this purpose it recommends its reappointment with a grant of 61. Is. 

 for expenses of printing and postage. 



Bird Migration in Great Britain and Ireland. — Interim Report of the 

 Committee, consisting of Professor Newton (Chairman), Mr. John 

 CoRDEAUX (Secretary), Mr. John A. Harvie-Brown, Mr. R. M. 

 Barrington, Rev. E. Ponsonby Knubley, and Dr. H, O. Forbes, 

 appointed to ivorJc out the details of the Observations of the Migra- 

 tion of Birds at Lighthouses and Lightships, 1880-87. 



It is with extreme regret that your Committee have to report the serious 

 illness of Mr. William Eagle Clarke, shortly after his return last autumn 

 from the delta of the Rhone, to which his zeal in investigating the sub- 

 ject of Bird Migration had led him at an unhealthy season. In conse- 

 quence of this illness he has been able to make but little progress in 

 executing the task of working out the details of the Observations already 

 so successfully digested by him, which task had been entrusted to him by 

 your Committee. 



It seems quite certain that no useful result could follow from at pre- 

 sent placing in other hands any of the records which the Committee 

 possess, even if such a course would be fair to Mr. Clarke, who has already 

 bestowed so much labour and time upon them, and therefore your Com- 

 mittee, in the hope of his eventual recovery, respectfully request reappoint- 

 ment. 



