We may hope^ therefore^ iu the course of another year to 

 see the ^' beginning of the end " of the Catalogue. I need 

 hardly allude to the importance of a full general index 

 to conclude the work, but we may be quite sure that 

 Dr. Giinther has already considered this subject. 



In other branches of ornithological literature the most 

 pleasing novelty that has appeared since the termination of 

 our last session is, I think, the first part of ^^fr. Rothschild's 

 work on the ^Avifauna of Laysan." A short time ago the 

 very existence of Laysan and its neighbouring islands was 

 hardly known to us. Mr. Rothschild^s active collector has 

 produced from these specks of rock a mass of material 

 sufficient to fill a large quarto volume under Mr. RothschikUs 

 elaborate treatment. This serves to prove, if further evi- 

 dence were necessary, the importance of " island-life "■' and 

 to show that no islet, however small and however remote, 

 should be allowed to escape the minute investigation of the 

 inquiring naturalist. On a c(5gnate subject I may express a 

 hope that the work of Messrs. Scott-Wilson and Evans on, 

 the * Birds of the Hawaiian Archipelago ' will shortly be 

 brought to a conclusion. When this is done our knowledge 

 of the North-Pacific Avifauna may be fairly supposed to 

 have made a very considerable advance. 



Another work long expected, ]Mr. Dresser^'s volume upon 

 the Rollers, is now, I see, annouiiced for immediate publi- 

 cation, vhile we may hope that the issue of ]Mr. Seebohm's 

 elaborate 'Monograph of tlie Thrushes ^ will not be long 

 delayed. It is a pity to withhold from publication such a 

 splendid series of well-drawn illu^itratioas of a favourite 

 group of birds. 



As regards ornithological travellers, of which I am glad to 

 say we have always a good supply in the ranks of the B. O. U., 

 Mr. Whitehead has recently departed on a new voyage of 

 discovery to the East, and, as we are informed, will begin 

 his wurk in Luzon and other islands in the Philippine group. 

 Mr. 0. V. Apllu has returned to this country after a success- 

 ful expedition to Uruguay, and is now engaged iu preparing 

 an account of his results for publication in 'The Ibis.' 



