5 [Vol. xiv. 



Colonial friends on the success of the Australian Ornitho- 

 logists' Union and its organ ' The Emu/ which is now in 

 its second volume, and which has already recorded some 

 remarkable discoveries. 



With regard to the other side of the Atlantic I will say 

 a few words upon what is going on there in ornithological 

 matters. The second volume of Mr. Ridgway's elaborate 

 work on the ' Birds of North and Middle America' was 

 issued at the close of 1902, but six more volumes will be 

 required to complete this almost herculean task, which, 

 whatever view we may take of the author's special treatment 

 of this subject, cannot fail to add very largely to our know- 

 ledge of the Neogean Ornis. But it must be some years 

 before this work can be finally completed. In the mean- 

 while, however, we may congratulate ourselves that the 

 iC Birds " of the ( Biologia Centrali-Americana/ under 

 Mr. Godman's care, have made good progress during the 

 past year, and that we may shortly expect it to be brought 

 to a conclusion. 



In South America also much has lately been done. 

 Dr. Goeldi, our ever active correspondent at Para, has 

 favoured the Editors of ' The Ibis' with an interesting 

 account of his ornithological experiences on the Capim River. 

 At Tring, I am informed, a considerable collection has 

 recently been received from Cayenne, obtained by the well- 

 known American collector Mr. Cherrie. I need hardly 

 point out how desirable it is that this series should be care- 

 fully examined, owing to the fact that most of Buffon's 

 and Brisson's South- American type-specimens were procured 

 from that French Colony ; and as Mr. Hartert and Graf v. 

 Berlepsch together have undertaken the task, there can be 

 no doubt that it will be efficiently performed. 



Finally, as regards South America, I am glad to state that the 

 first volume of Mr. W.E.D. Scott's 'Birds of Patagonia/ based 

 on the collection made by Mr. Hatcher's expedition to that 

 country, is in the hands of the printer, and that the remainder 

 is well under way. You will regret, however, to be told that 

 the accomplished author of the ' Story of a Bird-lover' (one 



