Vol. xiv.] 4 



concealed as in the case last referred to. To accumulate a 

 series of 500 specimens, containing representatives of three 

 new genera and upwards of thirty new species, in a few 

 months is a feat well worthy of special record. Mr. Bates's 

 work has been done in the south of the Camaroons country, 

 and his collections have proved to be of the highest interest. 

 In South Africa also much ornithological work is now 

 being caraied on. Mr. W. L. Sclater's third volume on the 

 Birds of Africa has been lately issued, and the fourth and 

 concluding volume is, as the author informs me, in a very 

 forward state. The Editors of ' The Ibis ' have likewise 

 received papers on two local collections made within the 

 limits of South Africa, which will be printed in the next 

 number of that journal. 



There is, however, one portion of Africa which has, as 

 yet, been hairlly touched by the ornithologist — I allude to 

 Upper Nigeria and those shores of Lake Tsad which have 

 lately come under British sway, and on the birds of which 

 we should like to have some information. Now that the 

 Pax Britannica has been established there, the field is open 

 to the scientific explorer, and I am sure that General Sir 

 Frederick Lugard would be glad to welcome him and render 

 him every possible assistance. We may hope, perhaps not 

 altogether without good reason, that some member of the 

 B. O. U. will undertake this task. 



As regards the Oriental Region there is not much in 

 recent discoveries that I need trouble you with on the present 

 occasion. But I may remark that Col. Bingham and his 

 friends have shown us that there are still some new forms 

 (such as Cerasophilus) to be picked up in the hills of Upper 

 Burmah, and the discovery of the very remarkable Phasianid 

 Rheinardtius in the Malaccan State ofPahang (cf. Ibis, 1903, 

 p. 254) is a fact of great interest, although it appears there 

 under a slightly different subspecific form. Much labour 

 has also been lately bestowed at Tring upon the birds of the 

 Eastern Archipelago, and Mr. Hartert is now at work upon 

 collections received there from the islands east of Timor. 

 In Australia we must not forget to congratulate our 



