vl INTRODUCTION. 
having a peculiar humming-bird, Lampornis hendersoni); and some places on the 
Isthmus of Darien a little to the south of the political limit of the State of Panama. 
Baja (or Lower) California, though belonging politically to Mexico, is excluded. 
The 1413 species of birds included in this work embrace representatives of 
seventy-eight families and 539 genera. Out of the twenty Orders given in the 
‘Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium’ (1873), all but three (the Opisthocomi, the 
Struthiones, and the Impennes) are represented. The other Neotropical families 
wholly absent from Central America are the Phytotomide, amongst the Passeres; the 
Steatornithide, of the Macrochires; the Todide, of the Coccyges; the Palamedeide, 
of the Anseres; the Cariamide and Psophiide, of the Geranomorphe; and the 
Chionidide and Thinocoridex, of the Limicole. To the Passeres belong rather more 
than half (741) of the total number of Central-American species, this proportion being 
much greater than that given in the ‘Nomenclator’ for the whole of the Neotropical 
Region, with 3565 species, where the numbers are 1976 and 1589 respectively. 
The geographical distribution of the families, exclusive of the Sea-birds and Waders, 
may be stated as follows: (1) Exclusively Neotropical—Ccerebidee, Oxyrhamphide, 
Pipride, Dendrocolaptide, Formicariide, Pteroptochide, Momotide, Galbulide, 
Bucconide, Rhamphastide, Cancromide, Eurypygide, and Tinamide (the subfamily 
Tinamotidine excepted); (2) Neotropical, but represented by one or more species in 
North America—Tanagride (Pyranga), Icteride, Tyrannide, Cotingide (Hadrostomus), 
Trochilide, Sarcorhamphide, Cracide, Aramide, and Parride; (3) Tropical countries 
generally—Trogonide and Psittacide (each with a single species extending to a little 
north of our boundary), Capitonide, Plotide, and Heliornithide; (4) North and 
Central America—Meleagride (not reaching south of Guatemala); (5) Nearctic, 
migrating south during the northern winter—Mniotiltide and Vireonide ; (6) Holarctic, 
migrating south during the northern winter—Turdide, Motacillide, Laniide, Hirun- 
dinide, Fringillide, Cypselide, Caprimulgide, Picide ; and (7) Cosmopolitan— 
Corvide, Alaudide, Cuculide, Strigide, Asionide, Pandionide, Falconide, Ardeide, 
Ciconiidee, Plataleidxw, Ibidide, Phenicopteride (except Australia), Anatide, Colum- 
bide, Peristeride, Phasianide, Rallide, Gruidee, Gidicnemide (not reaching north of 
Mexico), and Charadriide. 
Amongst the genera, thirty-eight are endemic :—Trochilide (14), Fringillide (4), 
Momotide, Corvidee, Ampelide, and Turdidee (2 each), and Troglodytide, Mniotiltidee, 
