PREFACE. 
P> 
The Two-hundred-and-fourth Number of 4 The Ibis 5 
concludes the Fifty-first Volume of our Journal. A s 
will be seen by its contents, contributions have 
by no means failed us, either in quantity or, we 
believe, in quality. Lieut. Whitehead has shown us 
that there is still something to be done in British 
India, especially on its northern confines, which he 
and Major Magrath have so successfully explored. 
Mr. Bucknill proves to us that even the Island of 
Cyprus is not yet thoroughly explored. Africa is 
evidently still unexhausted, as the discovery of the 
remarkable novelty described by Mr. Bothschild in the 
present volume amply testifies. We are also strongly 
supported in Africa by Mr. Bates in Kamerun and 
Mr. Nicoll in Egypt, besides other old friends. We 
have, in fact, excellent assistance in every part of the 
world as regards Geographical Ornithology. But on 
the Pterylography and Anatomy of Birds, without an 
accurate knowledge of which our 4 Systema Avium’ 
must ever remain imperfect, we have still few workers 
to assist us, and we could wish that some of our 
younger brethren would take up these comparatively 
neglected branches of our beloved Science. The 
Editors, while truly thankful to all the Contributors 
to 4 The Ibis,’ trust that they may receive a greater 
a 2 
