PREFACE.

Among the forms which remind us of the North of Europe, species may be noticed of the Jay
and Nutcracker’, of the Titmouse, Goldfinch, Bulfinch, and Blackbird’, of the Cuckoo, Wood-

pecker, and Creeper”, differing little in structure and disposition of their colours from our well-

known British species. ‘The greater part of the British Ducks have been observed to inhabit
these mountains. And other species of the Jatatorial birds,.as well as many of the Wading
order, exhibit, if not the same specific characters, at least the exact forms of those of the North
of Europe.

The intermediate situation of these mountains, lying between the northern and southern
parts of Asia, suggests to us the supposition of many southern Asiatic forms being united to
those of the north. Accordingly we find some of the most prominent groups * lately charac-
terized as belonging to Hindostan and the Eastern Archipelago, represented in the Himalayan
mountains by new species. Several of the groups* also which are common to both Africa and
India, have their representatives in this extensive district. And many of the Australian genera °
may be traced through the Archipelagan islands and the continent of India, until they reach
their apparent northern limit in the mountains of Nepal.

A few forms seem to be peculiar to this district, or at least to make it their central habitation.
Among the most important of these are the splendid Pheasants which have been characterized
by M. Temminck under the name of Lophophorus, of which the now well-known Impeyan
Pheasant is the type ; the crested Pheasants, which the same naturalist has separated under the
ttle of Euplocamus; and the horned Pheasants, which M. Cuvier has equally distinguished by
the name of Tragopan. In addition to these, a form apparently belonging to the Shrzkes, and
one to the ground Thrushes, as well as a very interesting form that unites the characters of
some remote genera of the Wading Birds, will be found to be characterized’ for the first time,

from the birds in the present collection.

' Garrulus, Cav. ; Nucifraga, Briss. * Parus, Linn. ; Carduelis, Briss. ; Pyrrhula, Briss.; Turdus, Auct.
* Cuculus, Linn.; Picus, Linn. ; Certhia, Auct. * Such as Myophonus, Temm.; Enicurus, Temm.; Bucco, Auct.

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Hematornis, Vig.; Muscipeta, Cuv. ; Lamprotornis, Temm. ; Pastor, 1d. ; Buceros, Linn.
* Rhipidura, Vig. and Horsf. ; Cinclosoma, Kid. ; Pitta, Temm.; Pomatorhinus, Horsf.
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These genera are named Hypsipetes, Zoothera, and Léedorhyncha. A second species of the first group, discovered in the Dukhun,

has been described by Col. Sykes since the publication of the characters of the genus.