PEEFACE. 



The second volume of the 'Hand-list' of Birds is believed to be a 

 correct record of all the species of PsitUici and of what are known 

 generally as ' Picarian ' birds. 



The number of genera and species enumerated in the two volumes of 

 the ' Hand-list ' is as follows : — 



Vol. 1 830 genera 3626 species. 



Vol. II 454 „ 2801 



Total 1284 genera 6487 species. 



Tlii^ number of generic names given by the late George Eobert Gray 

 in his ' Hand-list' (1869-71) is 1453, but it must be remembered that 

 that author gave a number to every sub-generic name mentioned by 

 him, so that not more than half of the genera indicated by him had 

 any re;il existence, and that probably not more than 700 have been 

 recognized by succeeding writers. This would give an increase of about 

 5(t0 or more generic names adopted since 1871 in the groups of birds 

 other than Passerine. In the same luunher of Families as has now been 

 enumerateil in the two volumes of the new ' Hand-list,' Gray admitted 

 some 4940 sj)ecies, so that in the tliirty years which have elapsed since 

 he wrote nearly 1500 additional species have been described. Dr. Sharpe, 



a2 



