Birds, Discovery and Conservation

Part 1 Geographical ornithology: ornithological exploration at the turn of the century; BOU expedition to Dutch New Guinea, 1910-11; expedition to southwestern Dutch New Guinea, 1912-13; expedition to Sikkim, 1930-31; expedition to the Sudan, 1939. Part 2 Discovery of new species and subspecies: Mikado Pheasant; Ribbon-tailed Bird of Paradise; Congo Peacock; Irish Coal Tit. Part 3 Migration: report on the first season's work, 1905; massive immigration of northern Finches in autumn of 1910; Eagle Clarke's "discovery" of Fair Isle; migration on the Chinese coast; migration at Ushant; influx of continental Jays into southern England; the Sooty Falcon "Falco concolor". Part 4 Ecology and Behaviour: goodfellow on the behaviour of Birds of Paradise; display of Snipe and Woodcock; the evolution of clutch-size; the severe winter of 1916-17; a severe gale; the watering of young Sandgrouse; nesting of the Fork-tailed Palm-swift; daily altitudinal movement of the White-collared Pigeon. Part 5 The cuckoo controversy. Part 6 Taxonomy, systematics and evolution: Stuart Baker on "The value of subspecies to the field naturalist"; taxonomy of the Robin; a review of some recent researches; in defence of the principle of the "First Reservoir". Part 7 The British List: first recorded breeding of the Slavonian Grebe in Britain; first recorded breeding of the Black-necked Grebe in England; British Willow Tit; Northern Willow Tit; Purple-headed Starlings in the British Isles; the Hastings rarities; the Black Woodpecker in Britain; assisted passage; introductions. Part 8 Conservation: protection of the Red Kite; egg-collecting; bird exploitation and conservation at home and abroad: Egret farms in India; the exportation of live birds from Africa; bird protection in Greenland; bird casualties on roads; controversial discussion.