INTRODUCTION 



The appearanee ol" the lirst vohuiie of JJr. Iv. B. Sharpe's admirable 

 "Hand-List of Birds" suggested to me the desirability of preparing a list, 

 similar in form, of the birds of the Philippine Islands. The need of such 

 a list was especially great in view of the fact that among the Americans 

 scattered through every province of the Philippine Archipelago there 

 were a number of members of the American Ornithologists's Union who 

 were attempting to take up the study of Philippine birds, as well as 

 numerous amateur ornithologists, whose attention was attracted by the 

 unusual opportunities for ornithological work and who desired to identify 

 the birds to be found in the vicinity of their several stations. 



While the necessary literature for the identification of the known species 

 of Philippine birds is on lile in the general scientific library of the Bureau 

 of Government Laboratories, its use by persons unfamiliar with Philijj- 

 pine ornithology is naturally attende<l with some practical diffic\dties. It 

 therefore seemed to me highly desirable that there should be prepared a 

 hand-list giving references to descriptions of all species known to inhabit 

 the Philij)pines and stating accurately the known distribution of each 

 species within the Archipelago. 1 began work upon such a list four years 

 ago, but manifold official duties prevented rapid progress. 



When the services of Mr. Richard C. McGregor were secured as collector 

 of natural-history specimens this work, which had then been little more 

 than begun, was turned over to him, as was an unpublished manuscript 

 |)repared by Dr. Frank S. Bourns and myself, from which it was hoped 

 tliat he would be able to derive information of value. It is only fair to 

 Mr. McGregor to say that from that time imtil August 15, 1905, on 

 which date he left for a well-earned rest in the United States, most of the 

 work upon the Hand-List was performed by him. My own sul)se(iuenl 

 connection with it has been confined to consultation with liim on doubtful 

 points and to the final editing of the manuscript. .\s some of tlic foot- 

 notes were written by Mr. McGregor prior to his departure and others 

 which he has had no opportunity to see have been subsequently written 

 by me, I have deemed it desirable to give, in each instance. Ibc autborship 

 of the footnotes. 



It has been our purpose to include all species which arc known to 



3 



