INTRODUCTION. 



The total number of the species of Owls is now about 190. The 

 British Museum contains 153, so that 37 are still wanting to 

 complete the collection ; the specific distinction of perhaps 10 of 

 these is dubious. 



The exact number of specimens of Striges enumerated in this 

 volume is 1090. Besides the scries acquired by the pmxhase of 

 Mr. A. R. Wallace's collection, which contained many species before 

 um-epresented, in addition to numerous types, no great collections of 

 Owls have been obtained by the British Museum, as there is always 

 great difficulty in procuring specimens of these birds. The list of 

 desiderata, however, has been considerably decreased by purchases, 

 as well as presents from the following gentlemen : — Viscount Walden, 

 Lord Lilford, Baron A. von Hiigel, Major Hayes Lloyd, Captain 

 G. E. Shelley, Professor Schlegel, Messrs. John Gould, TV. Wilson 

 Saunders, Osbert Salvin, Howard Saunders, Dr. B. Hinde, Messrs. 

 T. E. Buckley, H. F. Blissett, and A. Bouvier. 



The special thanks of the author for valuable assistance and loan 

 of specimens are due to Viscount Walden, Captain Shelley, Dr. Otto 

 Finsch, Messrs. Sah-in and Godman, Howard Saunders, E. Swinhoe, 

 Herr C. GodefFroy, of Hamburgh, Count Salvadori, of Turin ; but, 

 above all, to Mr. AUan Hume, who was so kind as to send to 

 England a complete series of the smaller Indian Owls, including the 

 types of many species not yet represented in European museums. 

 The authorities of the Norwich Museum have also forwarded to 

 London all the specimens which it was necessary to examine, 

 including some of the rarest species. 



