PREFACE. 



During the 16t1i Session, 1907-1908, the total number of 

 attendances at the Meetingjs of the British Ornithologists* 

 Chib was SZl; this included 307 Members and 67 Visitors, 

 showing an average of about 41 per Meeting, and a slight 

 decrease as compared with the previous Session. 



A very large number of new and interesting forms will be 

 found described in the present volume by Mr. Boyd Alexander, 

 Prof. Neumann, and other Members of the Club, and include 

 many of the novelties procured by the Ruwenzori, Alexander- 

 Gosling, and Rudd Expeditions. 



The most remarkable bird exhibited during the Session was 

 undoubtedly the purplish-black Pheasant [Calophasis mikado. 

 Grant) from Formosa ; the species was originally discovered 

 by Mr. Walter Goodfellow and was described from the 

 middle pair of tail-feathers of a male and from an adult 

 female. Subsequently, at the instigation of Mr. Walter 

 Rothschild, Mr. Alan Owston sent some Japanese collectors 

 to the island and succeeded in procuring several fine adult 

 male examples of the Mikado Pheasant, as well as a very 

 interesting new species of Bullfinch {Pyrrhula owstoni). 

 Among other interesting birds shown we may call attention 

 to two Grouse believed to be the first undoubted hybrids 

 between the Red Grouse and Ptarmigan that have been 

 recorded. 



On the annual Lantern-slide night, which was held at the 

 April Meeting, the great feature of the evening was an 



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