2S British Birds ^ 



Such an object as this renders unnecessary, even if 

 it does not exclude as mistaken and misplaced, any 

 attempt at scientific disquisition as to the differences 

 cr divergences just now referred to ; but perhaps it 

 apologises, even if it does not call, for some notice of 

 another topic not altogether unconnected. I mean, 

 the resort to some list or key-list, some catalogue, or 

 summary, or systematic sketch of the orders, genera, 

 and species of British birds. The writer has several 

 before him as he pens these lines. One by Mr. Henry 

 Seebohm ; another by Lieutenant-Colonel Howard 

 Irby, for instance. Then there is the " Ibis " List, 

 which is the list compiled for the British Ornitho- 

 logical Union, besides some others of more or less 

 considerable standing. Then again, there are the lists 

 one can make for oneself by copying from some such 

 book as Saunders' " Manual of British Birds," or from 

 the earlier pages of the several volumes of the last 

 edition of Yarrell's " History of British Birds," so 

 largely referred to above. All of these, however, will 

 be found to differ more or less in divers matters ; such, 

 for instance, as the number of birds whose names 

 should be admitted into the list of British birds ; or 

 the arrangement proposed or followed ; or the nature 

 of the nomenclature adopted. Among more than one 

 of the drawbacks thus enumerated, Mr. Seebohm's list 

 has certainly this advantage, that, besides giving a 

 most valuable summary of the geographical distribu- 

 tion of each British bird, it is also arranged for 

 " Labels of Collections of British Birds or Eggs." The 

 name of each separate species, together with the in- 

 forD:iation about it, is printed on one side of the paper 



