(303) 



IX. Check List of the Birds of South Africa, containing additions 

 and corrections since the issue of the successive volumes of the 

 Birds in the Fauna of South Africa Series. BY W. L. SCLATER, 

 M.A., F.Z.S, Director of South African Museum. 



(1) INTRODUCTION. 



THE following list is based on the three volumes of the Birds of 

 South Africa hitherto published, while the remaining names are 

 taken from the MSS. of the fourth volume now in the press. 



Owing to various reasons the issue of the successive volumes of 

 this work have been somewhat protracted. It has therefore been 

 necessary to make a good many additions and alterations to the list 

 of South African birds, especially in the earlier volumes. 



The total number of birds described in the four volumes is 813 ; 

 to this there are added twenty-two new species, including a certain 

 number previously included in the fauna but recently discriminated 

 and described under an old name now revived ; fourteen species not 

 previously found south of the Zambesi ; two species known to be 

 introduced from Europe ; and twenty subspecies or geographical 

 races ; while five species recognised in the first two volumes must be 

 erased. This is shown in the following table : 



Species described in the Fauna 814 



New species 22 



Species new to South Africa 14 



Introduced 3 



Subspecies 20 



873 

 Less species to be eliminated 5 



Total species and subspecies of birds in South Africa 868 



26 



