PJ^EFACE. 
We are somewhat pleased to be able to issue the 
forty-fourth volume of ' The Ibis ' with a hundred 
pages less than the volumes immediately preceding 
it, because, as we informed our readers last year, the 
gradual augmentation in size of the annual volume 
seemed likely to cause them considerable embarass- 
ment. At the same time we may say that it has not 
been found necessary to refuse any desirable contri- 
butions on the ground of space this year, and that 
several important articles are already promised for 
our next number. 
Perhaps it hardly comes within the province of 
the Editors to specify any particular contribution as 
entitled to special remark. Nevertheless, we think 
we may venture to direct the attention of our readers 
to Mr. William Eagle Clarke's interesting account of 
his month's residence on the Eddystone Lighthouse, 
and his study of the phenomena of migration as 
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