VI INTRODUCTION. 



The author regrets that, in a general work of this kind, he did 

 not feel justified in giving detailed descriptions of the interesting 

 plumage changes of the ducks; so the sequences of molts and 

 plumages have been only briefly indicated with sufficient descrip- 

 tions to make them recognizable. The reader, who wishes to make 

 a more thorough study of this subject, is referred to the splendid 

 monographs of the ducks by Mr. John G. Millais and to the full and 

 accurate descriptions of the various plumages by Miss Annie C. Jack- 

 son, in A Practical Handbook of British Birds, edited by Mr. H. F. 

 Witherby. 



The old check list is now so far out of date that it seems unsvise 

 to follow it in the use of scientific names. Therefore, Dr. Charles 

 W. Richmond and Dr. Harry C. Oberholser have kindly furnished the 

 scientific names for this bulletin, which, according to their best judg- 

 ment, most satisfactorily represent our present knowledge. 



The author wishes to suggest to the readers of these volumes that, 

 if they wish to have their names remain on the mailing list to 

 receive future bulletins, they must send him contributions of value 

 which he can use, and send them long in advance, at least two years 

 before the probable date of publication. The author can have the 

 bulletins sent only to contributors; others can obtain them on appli- 

 cation to the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing 

 Office, Washington, D. C. 



The Author. 



