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PREFACE. |
vi

met with specimens of the

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continental authors, in consequence either of my never having

ted

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ae el ine separ P - known
birds : or because I am doubiful as to the propriety of their being separated from other

species :

‘the species ave fe r 7] rery slight modifications the
In my arrangement of the species I have followed with some very slig

views of Mr. Vigors, which are now so generally adopted in this country. In the subdivision |

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of the genera | have perhaps gone further than most other ornithologists, but at the same time

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I feel convinced that these subdivisions are naturally indicated ; that they tend to facilitate the
studies of the naturalist ; and that some of the groups might have been still further divided with
propriety. In a few instances the characters of some of the minor sub-genera have been inad-

vertently omitted; but this omission will not be found of any material consequence. The

 

generic characters accompanying Totanus hypoleucus should be cancelled, as they have been
previously given with Totanus fuscus. Jam also aware that some other trifling errors have
occurred, but I trust they will be looked upon with leniency when it is taken into consideration

that the work has been commenced and completed in the short space of five years amidst

numerous other avocations.

Tt would argue a want of gratitude in me were I to omit acknowledging the facilities
which the Council of the Zoological Society have afforded me in this undertaking, and their
kindness in permitting me to dedicate the work to them. I also conceive that I am considerably |
indebted for the success of my publication to the more general diffusion of a taste for natural
history, towards which that admirable Society has so largely and successfully contributed, and to |
which in a great measure must be attributed the favourable reception which works of Natural
History now so universally meet with; and I am also deeply indebted to the Council for the
liberality with which I have at all times been allowed to avail myself of the treasures contained

in the Society's Museum. To the national establishment, the British Museum, I am similarly

 

 

* Viz.—Corvus leucopheus, a variety of Corvus corax.
spermologus, a variety of Corvus monedula 2 '
Alauda Dupontii (Certhilauda bifasciata 2),
Kollyii.
Emberiza provincialis. ;

Fringilla incerta.
— borealis.

 

 

Hemipodius lunatus, synonymous with Hem. tachydromus ; and
Larus capistratus.