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The Ornithological Congress.



bright garb of spring is generally due to abrasion. Dr. Otto

Herman, from Budapest, contributed a most interesting paper on

“ Migration,” which was read in English by Mme. Ginever. The

arrival of the Swallow was noted, 011 special post-cards, by some

6,000 observers,which covered the whole area of Hungary. The

points of observation were geographically determined and maps

prepared showing the exact points of arrival on different days.

The result showed that the arrivals commenced on March 10th,

being noted at three points. On March 30th the culminating

point had been reached, 343 points being noted. Then the num¬

bers began to decrease and 011 May 22nd only 15 points were

noted. By such observations on various species it was a simple

matter to determine the direction taken by the migrating birds,

and it was found that the Swallow arrives in Hungary from the

South, the White Stork travels from South-East to North-West,

the Wagtail from West to East, the Woodcock from South-West

to North-East,and the Cuckoo from South-East to North-West.


Mr. W. P. Pycraft contributed a very important paper on

“Nestling Birds in relation to Evolution.” He came to the

conclusion from a study of a large series of nestlings, that all

birds were at one time arboreal. Those that had from various

causes taken to nesting on the ground had become nudifugous,

while those that continued to nest in trees produced naked and

helpless young. The author showed the great importance of

studying the young of various birds, about many of which very

little is known. Mr. Frank Chapman’s papers on the life-

history of the American Flamingo and the Brown Pelican were

illustrated by perhaps the best series of bird slides that have

ever been seen in this country. The author had visited breeding

colonies of both species, the former in the Bahamas and the

latter in Florida. He had erected screens in the centre of the

colonies and thus obtained photographic records of the whole

history of the nesting birds. The colouring of these slides, done

by the author himself, was most beautiful, and probably better

than anything of the kind that has been seen before.


O11 Thursday the members of the Congress proceeded by

special train to Tring, as the guests of the Hon. Walter

Rothschild. The world-famed Museum was first visited, after



