INTRODUCTION 



This work represents an attempt to assort and consolidate informa- 

 tion for the convenience of the user. As a resuh, the approach is two- 

 fold: (i) entomological, and (2) ornithological. These two check-lists 

 are complemented by a third portion, a bibliography, which is as in- 

 clusive as I could make it over a period of about four years. 



Specialists in entomology and in ornithology will not have diffi- 

 culty in finding inconsistencies, errors and omissions. In some in- 

 stances these are unavoidable because the taxonomic area covered is 

 rather wide. The check-lists include eighteen orders of insects and 

 twenty-six orders of birds. Since it is difficult for one person to have 

 authoritative knowledge of all these groups, I have relied heavily on 

 the work of specialists in the sub-areas represented. As long as there 

 are taxonomists there probably will be disagreements on the "correct- 

 ness" of nomenclature. Consequently, disagreements are reflected herein 

 not only among American workers but also between Americans and 

 workers in other countries. 



It may be reasoned that either binominal or trinominal designations 

 should have been used consistently throughout this work. Both are used 

 but the decision of which to use in any particular instance has been 

 based upon three criteria: (i) the specificity of the original citation, 

 (2) the definitiveness of the taxonomic reference, and (3) the degree of 

 taxonomic isolation. In regard to the first criterion, one should be aware 

 of the several distinct species or subspecies involved in a comparison of 

 such citations as "starling" and "Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris L." ; or 

 "finch", "fringillid", and "Carduelis cannahina (L.)". The completeness, 

 accuracy and timeliness of the taxonomic reference make a difference in 

 ones capability of using binominal or trinominal designations. Also, 

 some species and genera are taxonomically (or geographically) more 

 isolated than others. This situation, then, may have a direct effect 



[■I] 



