8 



piece of new land into wliicli the traveller thrusts his way 

 will continue to supply novelties iu Ornithologyj as in other 

 branches of Natural ' History _. and that tlje age of discovery 

 is by no means yet past. Dr. Donaldson Smith's researches 

 in Galla-laud, !Mr. Whitehead's expedition to the Philippines, 

 and i\Ir. Baron's excursions in the Andes of Northern Peru, 

 alike prove that such is not the case. From New Guinea, 

 again, and the adjacent islands, as the jSIembers of this Club 

 well know, we still continue to receive new and most strange 

 forms of Paradise-birds. One of the most remarkable of these 

 extraordinary birds [Pterldophora alberti) has only become 

 known to us during the last Session of the Club. As the 

 mountains of New Guinea become invaded by the scientific 

 explorer^ more, no doubt, remain to follow. But to invade 

 tlie recesses of Galla-land, the Philippines, or Peru, are tasks 

 not to be undertaken lightly. For shorter excursions which 

 might be accomplished in a winter-'s travel, besides the ex- 

 pedition up the Euphrates, which I suggested in last yearns 

 Address, I will venture to put forward the claims of Tripoli 

 and Arabia Felix to ornithological investigation. Tripoli, 

 lying between Tunis and Egypt, presents features of con- 

 siderable interest, and though its birds would be few, yet we 

 should like to know what are to be found there. Tripoli is 

 commonly supposed to be inaccessible from the fanaticism of 

 its inhabitants ; but it is evident from Mr. Cowper's recent 

 archasological expedition into that country (of which an 

 account was given at the recent Meeting of the British 

 Association) that these supposed difficulties are by no means 

 unsurmountable. Where the archaeologist can go the natu- 

 ralist can surely follow. The Editors of 'The Ibis' have 

 already sung the praises of Arabia Felix in their last number 

 (see ' Ibis,-' 1895, p. 510). It is a pity that Mr. Bent did not 

 take a collector with him to Dhol'ar. As he neglected this 

 good opportunity, some ornithologist must follow in his 

 footsteps, and tell us what the birds of Dhofar really are. 



In concluding ray remarks I will again urge upon you the 

 great want of a convenient Handbook on the Anatomy of 

 Birds, Notwithstanding the labours of Garrod, Forbes, and 



