PREFACE, 
Tax past Session has been made memorable by the cessation 
of hostilities, the gradual return to more normal conditions, 
and the welcome reappearance at our own meetings of 
members who, during the past four years or so, have been 
away on military duty. As a result, the attendances have 
increased, the total number for the Session being 319, as 
compared with 224 for the previous Session. 
A number of new forms have been described and the 
interest of the meetings maintained. Perhaps the most 
surprising novelty brought to light has been the previously 
overlooked Guinea-fowl inhabiting Morocco, described by 
Dr. Hartert under the name of Numida sabyi; while Lord 
Rothschild is to be congratulated on having shown the 
distinguishing characters of the two races of Ostrich, hitherto 
passing as Struthio camelus, and separated the Syrian bird 
as S. ¢. syriacus. 
The March meeting was as usual held in conjunction with 
the Annual Dinner of the B.O.U., and was very well 
attended, no less than five Honorary Lady-members and 
several Lady-guests being present for the first time. The 
meeting was devoted to an exhibition of lantern-slides, many 
of which were of great interest. Dr. Murray Levick very 
kindly showed his splendid series of Antarctic slides 
illustrating the life-history of the Adélie Penguin. 
a2 
