PREFACE. Vll 



associations "as Mr. Ransome and those who act with him are forming, 

 and in contributing not only their money but their time in promoting 

 an object so praiseworthy. 



I advert with pleasure to the comments of several of my oldest sub- 

 scribers on the spirit of extermination with which some of our rarer 

 birds appear to have been pursued ; and at the risk of exciting a smile 

 on the countenance of some ardent ornithologist, I do not hesitate to 

 express my entire unity with the observations of my correspondents. 

 Even could we abandon the religious and moral grounds so ably urged 

 by these advocates of gentleness, I would, as a naturalist, press on 

 my readers the far higher pleasure we should receive from the esta- 

 blishment of these ornithological rarities in the vicinity of our home- 

 steads. (See the papers by Mr. Wilmott, 2878 ; Sir Harford Brydges, 

 2914; Mr. Jerdon, 2951 ; and the Rev. Arthur Hussey, 2952). 



I must not allow this opportunity to pass by of inviting particular 

 attention to the extracts from the letters of Mr. Bates (Zool. 2663, 

 2715, 2789, 2836, and 2941), now devoting the prime of his life to 

 Natural-History researches in the interior of South America, and of 

 expressing my admiration for the zeal, the energy, the bravery, and the 

 true devotion to the cause of science which have led him to wander 

 alone beneath a tropical sun, and to devote his entire time to making 

 collections of the least remunerative objects of Natural History. May 

 honour and success reward his labours ! 



In accordance with the custom of former years I now proceed to 

 give a sketch of our progress during 1850. 



In Mammalia, I believe no new facts have been elicited, and as re- 

 gards this country no additions have been made to our Fauna. 



In Birds, one of the most remarkable and interesting discoveries 

 has been made that has ever been recorded. One of those birds, 

 the bones of which have been found in such abundance in New 

 Zealand, and to which the careful and accurate pen of Professor 

 Owen has assigned generic and specific characters, has been taken 



