PREFACE. 



The Meetings of the British Ornithologists' Club held 

 during the 13th Session have been in every way remarkably 

 satisfactory. The number of members and visitors attending 

 the meetings has been larger than in any previous year ; 

 there has likewise been no falling off in the number of 

 new and rare birds that have been exhibited, or in the 

 interesting communications that have been read. 



The appointment of a Sub-Committee to report on the 

 movements in England and Wales of our commoner migra- 

 tory birds is one of the most important events of the year. 

 Thanks to the energy that has been displayed by this Sub- 

 Committee and to the assistance of numerous correspondents 

 in all parts of the country, a very fairly complete record of 

 the arrival of the Spring-migrants has been kept and the 

 full report, when published, should prove of great value and 

 of general interest. 



It is satisfactory to note that the efforts made to preserve 

 the few remaining pairs of Kites in Wales have this year 

 been crowned with success. Thanks to the incessant watch 

 kept over the eggs and young, two pairs of young birds got 

 safely off. 



We have to record with regret that death has deprived 

 the Club of several well-known Members, viz. : — Dr. W. T. 

 Blanford, F.R.S., Lt.-Col. L. H. Irby, Mr. E. Neale, and 

 Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor, who was one of the original 

 members of the ' Ibis/ 



(Signed) W. R. OGILVIE-GRANT, 



Editor. 



September llth, 1905. 



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