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PREFACE. 
There is little need for much to be said by way of 
Preface to ‘The Ibis/ Its objects are well known to, 
and fully appreciated by, those who are the most active 
labourers in the field of Ornithology, as every succeeding 
Number testifies by the new names that are enrolled on 
its list of contributors, while its old supporters are as 
ready as ever to communicate to its pages the results of 
their studies at home or observations abroad. 
To break the continuity of a Journal having a scope so 
limited as that of ‘ The Ibis ’ by commencing a New 
Series was an experiment involving no small risk, and 
this risk seemed the greater to the present Editor when 
he considered that under the skilful guidance of his 
friend and predecessor, Mr. P. L. Sclater, the Old 
Series had won for itself such a high scientific position. 
Owing to the generous support with which the New 
Series has met, this danger, it is believed, has been suc¬ 
cessfully surmounted, and the Editor has now only to 
express his grateful acknowledgements to the Ornitho- 
* logists of every country and of every class for the cor¬ 
dial assistance they have rendered him in the discharge 
of his duty. 
Magdalene College, Cambridge. 
September 1866. 
A. N. 
