^I PEEFACE. 



Part VIII (now in course of preparation) will contain the Chara- 

 driifoiines, which include the Shore Birds (Limicolse), Gulls (Lari), 

 and Auks (Alcae), together with their nearer allies. 



In the seven volumes thus far pubUshed are treated in detail (that 

 is, with fuU descriptions and synonymies), besides the Families 

 above mentioned and the higher groups to which they belong, 564 

 genera and 2,319 species and subspecies, besides 191 cxtralimital 

 genera and 561 cxtralimital species and subspecies whose diagnostic 

 characters are given in the ' 'Keys" and their principal synonymy (full 

 synonymy in case of the genera) given in footnotes. 



Acknowledgments are due to the same individuals and institu- 

 tions as those mentioned in previous volumes for the loan of speci- 

 mens needed in the preparation of the present one; also to the 

 State University of Iowa (through Prof. C. C. Nutting) for the 

 privilege of examining a series of 16 specimens of the Louisiana 

 Parroquet from the Indian Territory.^ 



To Dr. Charles W. Richmond, Acting Curator of the Division of 

 Birds, U. S. National Museum, the author is indebted for the privilege 

 of free access to his unique and extremely valuable card-catalogue 

 collection of references to the first publication of generic, specific, and 

 subspecific names, for information concerning puzzHng questions of 

 nomenclature, and invaluable help in reading proof sheets; and to 

 ^ir. J. H. Riley, Aid in the Division of Birds, for assistance in various 

 ways. 



Measurements of specimens for use in the preparation of the 

 present volume were made by Miss Celestine B. Hodges, and the 

 original drawings of the outUne figures illustrating generic details 

 (Pis. I-XXIV), (ixcept those previously published, were made by Miss 

 Helen E. Lewis, both of Washington, D. C. 



Robert Ridgway. 



January 24, 1916. 



1 Specimens borrowed for use in the preparation of this volume are as follows: 



American Museum of Natural History 1, 1C9 



Museum of Comparative Zoology (chiefly the Bangs Collection) • 1, 174 



Field Museum of Natural History 599 



Carnegie Museum 555 



Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 191 



William Brewster 52 



State University of Iowa 16 



Total 3,756 



Cuculidse.. 1,276 



Psittacidae 989 



Columbidae 1, 491 



