PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. 



In concluding my work on the Accipitres, a work which I fear 

 has grown far beyond my original intention of publishing a 

 mere list, I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to the sources 

 from which I have received inspiration and help. In the first 

 place I must acknowledge that a good deal of the systematic 

 part and the generic characters have been borrowed from 

 the late Richard Bowdler Sharpe's "Catalogue of the Accipitres 

 in the Collection of the British Museum " (1874) of which 

 his annotated copy, laid down on sheets and extended, came 

 into my possession after his death, as also his interleaved 

 copy of the Accipitres portion in Gray's " Genera of Birds," 

 upon which he based his 1874 monograph. For permission to 

 make use of the former work I have to thank the Trustees of 

 the British Museum. I have also derived assistance from 

 Mr. W. L. Sclater's work at the British Museum (Natural 

 History) in so far as his had preceded mine, and his MS. 

 Catalogue of the skins, which he kindly gave me permission 

 to use. I have also to thank Mr. Bannerman, Mr. Chubb and 

 other assistants at the Museum for help rendered during my 

 studies there. To Lord Rothschild and Dr. Hartert lor the 

 use of the superb collections at Tring I am grateful, and to 

 Dr. Hartert especially for much personal assistance. The 

 Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain and a number of other friends have also 

 given me help and encouragement in various ways in what, 

 although an arduous and unprofitable undertaking, will I 

 hope be of some permanent help in systematizing this interesting 

 group of birds. 



March, 1920. 



