THE 



VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER 



ZOOLOGY. 



REPORT on the Birds collected during the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 

 in the years 1873-1876. By Philip Little? Sclatee, M.A., Ph.D., 

 F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.G.S., Secretary to the Zoological Society 

 of London. 



INTRODUCTION. 



On the return of the Challenger, I had great pleasure in acceding to the request of Sir C. 

 Wyville Thomson to undertake the examination of the skins of the birds collected during 

 the voyage. The whole collection embraced about 900 specimens in skins, besides which 

 there was a considerable series of sea-birds in salt and spirit, useful principally for 

 anatomical purposes, and a collection of eggs, mostly of oceanic species. 



The collection was formed under the superintendence of Mr John Murray, one of the 

 naturalists of the Expedition, and the skins were chiefly prepared by Mr Frederick 

 Pearcey, Avho accompanied the vessel as taxidermist. They are, nearly without exception, 

 in an excellent state of preservation. 



Mr Murray has kindly placed at my disposal his ornithological note-book, which 

 contains the history of every individual specimen, and many other particulars which 

 add greatly to the value of the collection. He has, besides, furnished me with further 

 notes for the present Report. The particulars and remarks thus obtained are designated 

 by being included in brackets. 



It will be recollected that the main object of the Challenger Expedition was the 

 exploration of the depths of the ocean, and that the collecting of birds, and especially 



(ZOOL. CHALL. EXP. — rART VIII. 1880.) H 1 



