The Birds of British Guiana. 7t 



stance, "Whiteley's Toucan,"' because such names are no 

 real indication of the bird itself; I prefer to call this particular 

 bird, "the Sea-green Toucan,"' since sea-green is its prevail- 

 ing colour. And so of others. Calling a bird after the name 

 of a place is open to the same objection. 



Where the specimens in the Museum do not represent, 

 at leasi at present, the whole Class or ( )rder, I ha\c indicated 

 absent forms by an asterisk; and where species are doubtful, 

 as birds of this colony, or are only cliance visitors. 1 have 

 marked them thus, (?). 



Some .apology may be thought necessary for the order 

 1 have adopted iai presenting the dilYerent Classes and r)rders. 

 Birds Iiave affinities, whether of habits or structure, in so 

 many directions, and tlic conclusions of Science are at present 

 so conrticting and indeterminate, that 1 h.a\'e felt myself free 

 to follow an arrangement of my own. Thus I ha\c placed 

 Eagles and Hawks at the head of the list because they are 

 most masterful of all the feathered tribes; not because I am 

 unaware that, in the order of evolution,* Ratitae (of existing 

 birds) are generally placed in that position. So also I have 

 placed sugar-birds and humming-birds in ju.xta-position be- 

 cause, whate\ er and however divergent, their process of evolu- 

 tion may have been, they have strong outward affinities and 

 resemblances. Similarly also swifts and swallows, king-Hshers 

 and jacamars. Where no such strong outward affinities arc 

 present, I have been content to follow the pro\isional con- 

 clusions of science, and thus I have placed cuckoos near 

 parrots, and wood-peckers near toucans. I''urther, I have 

 placed tyrant-birds near barbets and the two Orders of barbets 

 together, for the sake of mutual comparison and contrast. So 

 of other forms. In all cases their scicntitic status is clearly 

 denoted. At present the whole arrangement of birds in 

 Classes and Families is, to say the least, more or less tenta- 

 tive. It is doubtful whether a final and satisfactory settle- 

 ment will ever be arrived at. 



Birds of Prf.y. 



Under this popular title may be included all raptorial 



*Tlierc iut; noL wanting UiniLholDgibt.s who wuulcJ dcsciilic I't'nguin.s {Sjihi'ii- 

 isciilae) as llie niosl ancient foinioi biid. 



