xiv PREFACE. 
_ Professor Flower was so good as to read over my chapters on 
extinct animals, and to point out several errors into which I had 
fallen. ; 
Dr. Giinther gave me much valuable information on the 
classification of reptiles, marking on my lists the best established 
-and most natural genera, and referring me to reliable sources of 
information. 
I am also greatly indebted to the following gentlemen for 
detailed information on special subjects :— 
To Sir Victor Brooke, for a MS. arrangement of the genera 
of Bovidee, with the details of their distribution: 
To Mr. Dresser, for lists of the characteristic birds of Northern 
and Arctic Europe: 
~ To Dr. Hooker, for information on the colours and odours of 
New Zealand plants : . 
To Mr. Kirby, for a list of the butterflies of Chili: 
To Professor Mivart, for a classification of the Batrachia, and 
an early proof of his article on “ Apes” in the Encyclopedia 
Britannica : 
To Mr. Salvin, for correcting my list of the birds of the 
Galapagos, and for other assistance: 
To Mr. Sharpe, for MS. lists of the birds of Madagascar 
‘and the Cape Verd Islands: 
To Canon Tristram, for a detailed arrangement of the dificult 
family of the warblers,—Sylviide : 
To Viscount Walden, for notes on the systematic arrangement 
of the Pyecnonotidee and Timaliide, and for an early proof af 
his list of the birds of the Philippine Islands. . 
I also have to thank many naturalists, both in this coun- 
try and abroad, who have sent me copies of their papers; 
and I trust they will continue to favour me in the same 
manner. 
