3 [Vol. xv. 



Ross, who accompanied the expedition, and will supply the 

 necessary field-notes. The collection formed hy the Natu- 

 ralists of the ' Discovery/ and placed in the British Museum, 

 is not quite so large, containing only ahout 120 skins, 

 hesides eggs, skeletons, and spirit-specimens. It will be 

 studied and reported upon by Dr. Edward Wilson, the 

 assistant-surgeon and naturalist. It is obvious that the 

 ' Discovery ' having had its headquarters much further south, 

 had not the same opportunities enjoyed by the ( Scotia' ; as 

 bird-life, so far as regards variety of species, rapidly diminishes 

 in the extreme south. There is no doubt, however, that 

 when these two collections have been properly worked out 

 we shall have a much better knowledge of the Antarctic 

 Ornis than we at present possess. 



Proceeding now to the more habitable parts of the globe, 

 I think we may say that the Ethiopian Region, as has 

 generally been the case of late years, has received the largest 

 share of attention from recent ornithological explorers. 

 Mr. Boyd Alexander has disappeared into the recesses of 

 Northern Nigeria, and though we have not heard much from 

 him since he left the Benue in April last for the interior, he 

 has, no doubt, with his usual energy, devoted much of his 

 time and attention to the birds of that country. Mr. G. L. 

 Bates has continued his researches on the birds of the 

 German colony of Cameroon, and, as those who read 

 ' The Ibis' must well know, in a most efficient manner. 

 Mr. Bates, who has recently been in this country for a few 

 weeks, on his way home to his friends in America, is not 

 only an energetic collector, but also an accurate observer, 

 and has furnished Dr. Bowdler Sharpe with many excellent 

 field-notes on the birds of Efulen. Passing to the other 

 side of Africa, we find our indefatigable friend, Mr. F. J. 

 Jackson, C.B., as busy as usual upon the bird-life of 

 British East Africa. At present he is putting together his 

 notes and finishing the extremely valuable series of papers 

 with which he has enriched the pages of e The Ibis/ In the 

 course of a few weeks he will return to his duties in the 

 Protectorate, and will no doubt be engaged in fresh researches 



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