PREFACE. 



In this (\italoo-ne of AvIpji skeletons in tlie Museum of the 

 College of Surgeons, the author has endeavoured to assign to 

 the species the most recent accepted name, to which lias been 

 appended some of the most important synonyms. 



The general plan adopted in Professor Flower's ' (Jatalogne 

 of Mammalia' has been followed in the })resent volume ; but it 

 has been thought better to introduce a few illustrations, to 

 enable the students who may not have the specimens imme- 

 diately before them to comprehend the characters described in 

 the text of the work. 



It has been considered advisable to commence a new series of 

 numbers with the ]')resent Catalogue, and in future the Avian 

 specimer.s will be distinguished from the JMauunalian by the 

 addition of an asterisk ; thus : — *2-l, kx'. 



In conclusion, the author begs to thank Professor StrWxVRT 

 for his kind assistance throughout the preparation of the work, 

 especially in the examination of certain difficult points of struc- 

 ture. To Dr. T{. "W. SiiriEiJtT ]\c U al-o extremely indebted 



