PREFACE. 



The number of attendances at the Meetings of the British 

 Ornithologists' Club during the 21st Session, 1912-1913, 

 was 401 (this included 328 Members and 73 Visitors), 

 showing an average of nearly 45 per meeting, as against 

 52 in the previous Session. The falling off in numbers was 

 no doubt due to the fact that no exhibition of Lantern- 

 slides took place in March. 



It is with very deep regret that we have to record the 

 death of our Chairman, Dr. P. L. Sclater, who had occupied 

 that position since the commencement of the Club in 

 October 1892. At the last meeting of the Session he was 

 too ill to be present and receive the testimonial and piece 

 of plate which were to have been presented to him in recog- 

 nition of his long and valuable services. He will be sadly 

 missed by the Members of the Club, 



Other well-known and much lamented members who 

 passed away during the Session were the veteran zoologist 

 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier, Mr, Henry J. Pearson, at one time 

 a Vice-Chairman and until lately a regular attendant of 

 the meetings, and Dr. Edward A. Wilson, whose loss is 

 specially deplored. 



The interest attaching to the meetings of the Club has 

 been well maintained during the Session, and many new 

 and rare species of Birds have been exhibited for the first 

 time. The most important collection shown was no doubt 



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