xxu 



birds. They are very delicate and are 

 not likely to thrive on the regulation diet 

 provided by Indian bird-keepers. 



1 have used freely in this volume the 

 vernacular names of the birds with the 

 object of familiarising the European 

 readers with the local nomenclature. As 

 regards the scientific names, 1 have follow- 

 ed Oates authoritative volume — the Fauna 

 of British India. The trinomial nomen- 

 clature which has been adopted in the 

 second edition of the Avi-fauna (now in 

 course of publication by Mr. Stuart 

 Baker) has necessitated some very im- 

 portant changes in classification. As the 

 published portion of the book reached me 

 after I had sent my manuscripts to the 

 press, I have no other alternative but to 

 add an appendix containing the names. 

 I have also appended some additional 

 aviary notes on several birds the habits 

 of which were observed during the period 

 the text was in the press. 



Dr. Graham Kenshaw, m.d., f.r.s.e., 



