INTRODUCTION. 



The present volume treats of the first group of the Passeriformes 

 or Perching Birds, the Coliomorphce. The total number of species 

 enumerated is 367, of which the British Museum contains 315 ; so 

 that 52 are stiU wanting to complete the collection : of these 

 missing species quite half the number are of doubtful specific value, 

 and many of them wUl be eventually found to be referable to 

 species which are duly described in the present work. The number 

 of specimens enumerated is 2014. 



It is not without some satisfaction that the author is able to 

 record the increasing assistance rendered to him by fellow labourers, 

 by presentations to the collection and by the loan of specimens. 

 Especial mention must be made of a donation of 1303 skins of 

 Indian and Malayan birds made to the Museum by Capt. Stackhouse 

 Pinwill. The series in the British Museum includes the collection 

 of Corvidce formed by Mr. John Gould, the African birds formerly 

 belonging to the author, Mr. "Wallace's tine series of Malayan Crows, 

 and specimens collected by Mr. W. T. Blanford in Persia and by 

 Dr. J. Anderson during the Yunan Expeditions. The Museum is 

 further indebted for presents to the following gentlemen — Lord 

 Lilford, Major Hayes Lloyd, Captain G. E. Shelley, Dr. B. Hinde, 

 Captain Vincent Legge, A. 0. Hume, Esq., C.B., Messrs. Woodward 

 (of Natal), and especially to the authorities of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, who have contributed several species which were want- 

 ing to the collection. 



The special thanks of the author for valuable assistance and loan 



