X INTRODUCTION. 



It must be remembered that this work is merely a Manual, 

 intended to convey as much information up to date as may be 

 practicable in one volmne ; and it would be foreign to my purpose 

 to increase its bulk by a treatise on the Orders and Families 

 of Birds : the characteristics of the Genera nevertheless are given 

 at some length below, although as briefly as is consistent with 

 lucidity. The beginner will, however, do well to bear in mind that 

 although systematists may be fairly agreed as regards the components 

 of the Orders and Families, much diversity of opinion exists respect- 

 ing the validity of many of the Genera which have been proposed 

 and even adopted ; nor is this surprising, for, after all, a generic 

 name is mainly — and often purely — a matter of convenience. 

 According to the Rules for Nomenclature — known as the Strick- 

 landian Code — a genus should be based upon some structural 

 character, but pattern of coloration, general habits &c. have often 

 been allowed to carry weight when anatomical distinctions have 

 proved insufficient to attain the desired end. 



The plan of giving a systematic sketch of the Genera in an 

 Introduction, and not in the body of the work, was suggested by 

 the Rev. C. A. Johns' ' British Birds in their Haunts,' an excellent 

 treatise on our commoner species at the time of its publication 

 (1867), though now out of date. 



Order PASSERES. 



Family TURDID.E. 



Subfamily Turdin^. 



(Young in first plumage differ from adults in having the upper and under parts 

 spotted. ) 



TuRDUS, LimiLttis. — Bill moderate, straight, convex above ; point of the upper 

 mandible compressed, notched and slightly decurved ; gape furnished with a 

 few hairs. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, partly closed by a membrane. 

 Wings with the first or ' bastard ' quill very short ; the second shorter than 

 the third or fourth, which are generally the longest. Tail rather long. 

 Tarsus longer than the middle toe ; outer toe connected with the middle toe 

 at the base (p. i). 



MONIICOLA, F. Boie. — Bill stout, straight, the ridge arched towards the point; 

 gape almost hairless. Nostrils basal, round, partly covered with hairs. 

 Wings moderate ; the first quill short, the second a little shorter than the 

 third, which is longest. Feet moderately stout. Tail short and even (p. 17). 



