IV BULLETIN 5 0, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Part VIII, issued June 26, 1919, contains the Charadriiformes 

 (plovcrlikc birds) with families Jacanidae (jacanas), Oedicnemidae 

 (thickknecs), Ilaematopodidae (oystercatchers), Arenariidae (turn- 

 stones), Aphrizidae (surfbirds), Charadriidae (plovers), Scolopacidac 

 (snipes, sandpipers, etc.), Phalaropodidae (phalaropes), Recurviros- 

 tridae (avocets and stilts), Rynchopidae (skimmers), Sternidac 

 (terns), Laridae (guUs), Stercorariidae (skuas and jaegers), and 

 Alcidae (auks). 



Part IX, issued October 2, 1941, contains the Gruiformes with the 

 families Gruidac (cranes), Rallidac (rails, gallinules, and coots), 

 Heliornithidac (sun-grebes), and Eurj^pygidae (sun-bitterns). 



Part X, issued December 18, 1946, contains the Galliformes, with 

 the families Cracidae (curassows, guans, and chachalacas) , Tetra- 

 onidao (grouse and ptarmigan), Phasianidae (American quails, par- 

 tridges, and pheasants), Numididae (guineafowl), and Mcleagrididac 

 (turkeys) , 



Part XI, the present part, contains the Falconiformes, with the 

 families Cathartidae (New World vultures), Accipitridae (hawks, 

 kites, buzzards, eagles, harriers, and Old World vultures), Pandionidae 

 (ospreys), and Falconidae (falcons, caracaras, and laughing falcons). 



Parts XII and XIII, now in course of preparation, will contain 

 the Anseriformes (ducks, geese, and swans) ; the Ciconiiformes, with 

 the families Ardeidae (herons, bitterns, etc), Cochleariidae (boatbills), 

 Ciconiidae (storks and wood ibises), Threskiornithidae (ibises and 

 spoonbills), and Phoenicopteridae (flamingoes); the Pelecaniformes, 

 with the families Phaethontidae (tropicbirds), Pelecanidae (pelicans), 

 Suhdac (boobies and ganncts), Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants), 

 Anhingidae (snakebirds), and Fregatidae (man-o'-war-birds) ; the 

 Procellariiformes, with the families Diomedeidae (albatrosses), 

 Procellariidae (shearwaters and petrels), and Hydrobatidae (storm 

 petrels); the Colymbiformes (grebes); the Gaviiformes (loons); the 

 Sphenisciformes (penguins); and the Tinamiformes (tinamous). 



In the 11 volumes thus far published there have been treated in 

 detail (that is, with full descriptions and synonymies), besides the 

 families above mentioned and higher groups to which they belong, 

 732 genera and 2,919 species and subspecies, besides 241 extralimital 

 genera and 692 extralimital species and subspecies whose principal 

 characters are given in the keys and whose principal synonymy is 

 given in footnotes. 



For the privilege of examining, or for the loan of, specimens needed 

 in the preparation of the present volume acknowledgments are due 

 to the authorities of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; 

 the American Museum of Natural History, New York; Carnegie 

 Museum, Pittsburgh; Chicago Natural History Museum; Museum of 



