16H6.] PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 101 



ing- allied forms, be the difference ever so slight, I may simply- refer to 

 what I have said on several other occasions.* 



On account of this unsatisfactory state of things, I have resolved to 

 publish preliminary reviews of some of the most perplexing groups in 

 order to solicit specimens and advice from fellow ornithologists, and to 

 induce those who have the opportunity to attempt the solution of some 

 of the questions, if possible, in the field. My remarJcs should he regarded 

 and criticised as tentative essays, and their conclusions as merely hypotheti- 

 cal and provisional. 



Ornithologists interested in Japanese ornithology are therefore earn- 

 estly requested to assist in gathering a material that will enable me to 

 satisfactorily fulfill the task of writing a complete hand book of the Jap- 

 anese ornis. The United States National Museum is willing to procure 

 by exchange specimens necessary for elucidating the fauna, and such 

 examples which the owner is unwilling to part with, will be returned as 

 soon as possible, without expense to him. The present writer is also 

 willing to identify any collection of Japanese birds which may be sub- 

 mitted to him for inspection, and due credit will always be given for 

 any favor rendered. He is also desirous of obtaining all publications, 

 even the smallest notice, relating to the birds of Japan, and offers in 

 exchange his own publications as far as the supply reaches, or such 

 publications of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum 

 as may be desired. 



All packages and specimens should be addressed to the Smithsonian 

 Institution ; books, letters, and other communications, to the writer. 



The Code of Nomeuclature adopted by the American Ornithologists' 

 Union is adopted. The number in i)arenthesis in front of the names re- 

 fers to Blakiston and Fryer's list (1882), from which are also derived the 

 Japanese names. All references are verified by myself unless the num- 

 l)er of the i)age or plate is included in parenthesis. The measurements 

 are in millimeters unless otherwise stated. 



• Order PICARI^. 



Six families of Picarians have representatives in Japan. The differ- 

 ent forms known to occur there may be referred to their respective 

 families by means of the following artificial key : 

 (iK Secondaries iiiue or more, miicli longer than the primary coverts. 

 ?'' . First primary longer than secondaries. 



c^ Two toes behind, two in front Cuculid^. 



c^. One toe behind, three iu front. 



dK Anterior toes not soldered together. 

 e^. Anterior toes at base nnited by a pliable membrane; middle claw pecti- 

 nated Caprimulgid^. 



c^. Anterior toes free to the base; middle toe not pectinated. CORACiADiDiE. 



*Proc. U. S. Nat. Mns., VII, 1884, pp. 78-80. Res, Oruith. Explor. Kamtsch., pp. 

 345-348. 



