PREFACE. 
It will be observed that the bulk of this year’s 4 Ibis ’ 
somewhat exceeds the usual dimensions of the annual 
volume. This is mainly owing to the translation of 
Sundevall’s Essay on 66 The Wings of Birds,” which 
has been prepared in conformity with the wishes of 
some of our most valued supporters. Sundevall’s 
paper, although issued so long ago as 1843, and twice 
translated into German (Isis, 1846, pp. 324-366, and 
Journ. f. Orn. 1865, pp. 118-168), seems to have 
attracted so little attention in this country that, on 
the subject being recently taken up again, there 
appeared to be some probability that the whole work 
would be commenced de novo . Under these circum¬ 
stances it was thought desirable that this excellent 
memoir should be recalled to public notice by the 
issue of an English translation. 
In connexion with this subject we are desirous of 
calling special attention to the series of specimens 
illustrative of every part of the structure of Birds 
now in course of preparation for the British Museum 
of Natural History, which deserves the minute study 
of every Ornithologist. 
P. L. S. 
H, S. 
London, October 1st, 1886. 
