PREFACE. 



During the 18th Session, 1909-1910, the total number of 

 attendances at the eight Meetings of the British Ornitho- 

 logists' Club was 355 ; this included 307 Members and 48 

 Visitors, showing an average of about 44 per Meeting, and a 

 distinct increase as compared with the previous Session. 



Owing to the death of our lamented colleague, Dr. R. 

 Bowdler Sharpe, who was virtually the founder of the Club, 

 it was decided to abandon the January Meeting, and the 

 number of the 'Bulletin' for that month contains his 

 obituary notice and portrait, together with a list of his 

 published works. 



With the death of Boyd Alexander the Club has sus- 

 tained another irreparable loss, and one which will be 

 mourned, not only in this country, which was so justly 

 proud of him, but throughout the civilized world. 



On the whole, we may congratulate ourselves on the work 

 done during the Session, and the pages of the present 

 volume will be found to contain a large number of interesting 

 communications and descriptions of many new species of 

 Birds. 



The annual Lantern-slide night, which was held at the 

 April Meeting, was, perhaps, not quite as good as usual, and 

 it is to be hoped that the next meeting of a similar kind 

 may receive greater support. 



There has been a marked increase this year in the number 

 of Kites (Milvus ictinus) in Wales, and there is now every 

 reason to believe that, with continued care and watching, this 

 line Bird of Prey will soon be once more firmly established. 



(Signed) W. R. OGILVIE-GRANT, 



Editor. 

 . tember 17th, 1010. 



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