INTRODUCTION. 



The task of completing this volume was placed in my hands in 

 April 1897 ; the Orders then remaining to be catalogued being the 

 Sieganojwdes, Pygopodes, Alcce, and Impennes. It is to be regretted 

 that the many departmental duties demanding constant attention 

 have greatly retarded the completion of the present work. 



The Steganopodes, comprising the Cormorants, Darters, Gannets, 

 Frigate-Birds, Tropic-Birds, and Pelicans, include 72 species. Of 

 these only three species are not represented in the British Museum 

 Collection ; two of this number,' recently described from the Gala- 

 pagos Islands and neighbouring seas, will he found in the ' Addenda ' 

 (p. 655). 



Two species, Phalacrocorax stewarti (p. 385) and Phaethon ameri- 

 canus (p. 456), are described for the first time. 



Of the Pygopodes (Divers and Grebes), Alcce (Auks and Puffins), 

 and Impennes (Penguins), only one of the 73 species is not repre- 

 sented in the National collection. 



I have been obliged to add one new generic name, Micruria 

 (see p. 594), for two small species of Guillemot. 



In addition to the splendid material to be found in the British 

 Museum, I have examined the fine series representing the above 

 Orders in Mr. Rothschild's Museum at Tring, as well as numerous 

 types and specimens contained in other Museums and private 

 collections, and kindly forwarded for examination. 



I have to return my best thanks to numerous friends for assist- 

 ance of various kinds. I wish particularly to mention Prof. R. 

 Collett, Dr. H. 0. Forbes, Mr. E. Hartert, Prof. F. W. Button, Lord 

 Kensington, Mr. E. W. Gates, the late Sir John CampbeU-Orde, 



