PREFACE. 



The Third Volume of the 'Catalogue of Birds in the British 

 Museum ' has been prepared by Mr. R. B. Sharpe, one of the 

 Senior Assistants in the Zoological Department, and author of 

 the two preceding volumes. It contains the commencement of the 

 account of aU the species of Passerine Birds known at present; 

 and as no similar monograph of these Birds has been published 

 since the year 1850, it may be hoped that the present work will 

 not only assist the numerous students of this portion of the British- 

 Museum coUections, but also prove useful to ornithologists, 

 travellers, and collectors. 



ALBERT GUNTHER, 

 Kee'per of the Department of Zoology. 



Britieh Museum, 

 June 1877. 



