PREFACE 



I T is with regret that I have to announce that, with the comple- 

 tion of this first volume, the publication of The Ornithologist 

 will be suspended — at least so far as I, personally, am concerned. 



There are many reasons for this ; reasons, too, which form 

 obstacles too weighty to admit of removal by my single-handed 

 action. I may indicate lack of time and lack of sufficient support 

 as standing preeminent among these reasons, although I in no 

 wise ignore the efforts of a percentage of my subscribers to aid me 

 in attempting to establish this magazine, for I shall always grate- 

 fully remember their aid. 



However, if The Ornithologist has not been quite an " out- 

 sider," nor quite useless, there may be one among us with more 

 leisure and a greater income than I, who will not suffer its death, 

 and to such a one I commend it. I have made some new 

 friends during the past year, and have renewed my intercourse 

 with old ones, and to these, as also to all my readers, I wish 

 A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ! 



H. K. S. 



London, November 12th, 189G. 



