PREFACE. 



The appearance of the second volume of ' Birds' with fewer 

 pages than are contained in other volumes belonging to the 

 ' Fauna of British India ' requires a brief explanation. 



When the ' Birds ' were undertaken by Mr. Oates in 1888, 

 he knew that it would not be possible to complete them 

 within the two years of furlough to which he was entitled, 

 but it was hoped both by him and by myself that he would 

 obtain additional leave of absence. This has not proved 

 to be the case, and within the time available Mr. Oates 

 has only found it practicable to finish the Passerine Order, 

 comprising about five ninths of all the species of birds 

 found in India. As will easily be understood by those who 

 have been engaged in similar scientific work, constant 

 application has been necessary in order to accomplish this 

 within the period mentioned. 



The first volume of the l Birds ' having appeared in 

 December of last year, there was, when Mr. Oates left 

 England in August last, considerably less than another 

 volume ready in manuscript. To have waited for a full 

 volume to be prepared would have entailed considerable 

 delay, and, under the circumstances, it has been thought 

 best to publish at once a second volume of less bulk at a 

 reduced price, and to leave the remaining birds to be 



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