Study of Bird-Migration

Abstract

The British Trust for Ornithology has accepted responsibility for the future conduct of the principal scheme in Great Britain for the study of migration and other aspects of bird-life by the ringing method. This scheme was insti tuted in 1909 by Mr. H. F. Witherby, editor of British Birds, and has been maintained with the co-operation of readers of that journal. More than half a million birds have been marked to date, and the recoveries of a proportion of these have already added greatly to knowledge of the subject. Important facilities for the work have at the same time been granted by the Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History), who are providing accommodation for the headquarters of the scheme in the Bird Room at South Kensington and permitting the Museum's address to be used. Rings will in future be inscribed “British Museum Nat. Hist. London”, instead of “Witherby High Holborn London”, with an individual identification number in addition as before. The scheme will now be directed by a special Bird-Ringing Committee, constituted as follows: Dr. A. Landsborough Thomson (chairman); Mr. A. W. Boyd; Mr. A. B. Duncan; Mr. P. A. D. Hollom; the Earl of Ilchester; the Earl of Mans field; Mr. H. F. Witherby; and Miss E. P. Leach (hon. secretary). The headquarters' work will be in the hands of Miss Leach, who has had much ex perience of it as Mr. Witherby's collaborator in recent years. British Birds will continue to be the medium for publishing results.