Those who are responsible for issuino these volumes may 

 well conoratulate themselves on having secured the services 

 of Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker. Mr. Baker is well known to 

 all those in India who take an interest in ornithology and 

 big game shooting. He is equally known to Ornithologists 

 all over the world as a regular contributor for more than 

 thirty years to the ^' Ibis" and "Bombay Natural History 

 Society's Journal." His volumes on Indian Game Birds are 

 standard works and all who read these pages will recog- 

 nise in his vivid descriptions of the habits and song of birds 

 the work of a first-hand authority. 



The author has produced a work wdiich combines the 

 highest scientific standard with a system which readily 

 enables the sportsman or amateur to identify the various 

 birds of British India. He has himself drawn attention to 

 the im[)erative need of the trinominal system of nomen- 

 clature and he has modernised the generic and specific 

 names in accordance with the rules of the International 

 Congress. 



Ill some cases it will be noticed that there is no name 

 following the words " vernacular names." In these cases 

 none have been recorded, but it is hoped that sportsmen and 

 naturalists in India may in time be able to fill up these 

 blanks. The extremely accurate and living drawings for the 

 j)lates are the work of the author. They have been 

 admirably reproduced by Messrs. Bale & Danielsson. 



7th July, 1922. A. E. SHIPLEY. 



