VI INTRODICTIOX. 



not survive long, though it lias to he ailniitted tliat, at the present time, 

 the system is very popular, while uiy views are considered to be old- 

 fashioned. 



It mav also he here stated tliat the inclusion oE a species in the 

 'Hand-list' does not necessarily imply that- I personally vouch for its 

 distinctness. I have not had the time to enquire into the claims 

 of every species there mentioned. My efforts have heen directed to 

 enunieratin;^ the names of all such as have heen described since the 

 publication of the ' Catalogue of Birds,' so as to bring the subject up 

 to date ; and in this respect I trust that some useful work has been 

 accomplished. 



If the present ' Hand-list ' has any pretension to completeness, this 

 will be in a great measure due to the co-operation of the many friends 

 who have allowed me to send them proofs as it proceeded, and the work 

 has, therefore, somewhat of an international character. 



I beg to return my sincere thanks to the following gentlemen, who 

 have rendered me their help and advice. 



Great Britain. — Dr. P. L. Sclater; the Hon. Walter Eothschild, 



D.Sc, M.P. ; Dr. Ernst Hartert ; Mr. W. E. Ogilvie-Grant; 



Dr. C. W. Andrews, F.E.S. ; Mr. W. P. Pycraft ; Mr. Charles 



Chubb ; Mr. G. M. Mathews. 

 German)/. — Prof. Dr. Eeichenow ; Count von Berlepsch ; Dr. Carl 



Hellmayr ; Dr. A. B. Meyer ; Dr. Otto Pinsch ; Pastor 



Kleinschmidt. 

 Itussia. — Dr. Bianchi. 

 Itahj. — Count Salvador!. 

 America. — Mr. Eobert Eidgway ; Dr. L. Stejneger ; Prof. J. 



A. Allen; Mr. C. W. Eichmond ; Mr. Harry Oberholser ; 



Mr. AVitmer Stone ; Mr. F. M. Chapman ; and Mr. Outram 



Bangs. 

 Auslraliii. — ^Ir. A. J. Xorth ; Mr. A. G. Campbell. 



