vi AUTHOR'S NOTE. 



me the eggs from time to time, and in supplying me with the history of each 

 specimen. For the loan of various valuable eggs I also owe hearty thanks to 

 Messrs. E. Bidwell, R. W. Chase, H. E, Dresser, H. J. Pearson, J. H. Salter, and 

 Dr. R. Williams. Mr. Dresser has, moreover, looked over some of the proofs 

 and given me valuable advice and information, and Mr. Bidwell has kindly 

 examined my drawings from time to time and advised me thereon. I have 

 further to thank the following gentlemen for the offer of loans of specimens 

 in the event of my extending the present work : — Messrs. J. Backhouse, 

 B. Crabtree, P. Crowley, H. S. Davenport, H. E. Dresser, J. A. Harvie-Brown, 

 Dr. H. Bendelack Hewetson, H. Massey, W. Newhall, F. W. Paple, H. J. 

 Pearson, H. L. Popham, W. Mark Pybus, and F. B. Whitlock. 



To Prof. M. Menzbier, Mr. H. S. Davenport, and Mr. H. Leyborne Popham, 

 I am indebted for valuable articles and notes supplied to me for this work. 



Lastly, I have to express my thanks to Dr. G. Brown Goode and Capt. C. 

 Bendire for permitting drawings to be made of rare eggs in the U.S. National 

 Museum Collection; to the latter gentleman for selecting the specimens and 

 for valuable information; to Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe and Mr. W. R. Ogilvie- 

 Grant for courteous assistance in viewing the Study Collection of eggs in the 

 British Museum ; and to the firm of Mr. W. Greve for their wonderful repro- 

 ductions of the original drawings. 



In this work I have, with few exceptions, adopted the scientific arrangement 

 and nomenclature used by Mr. Howard Saunders in his ' Manual of British Birds.' 

 I have given the geographical distribution of those species only which do not 

 breed within the British Islands. 



F. P. 



Worsley, Manchester. 

 May 1S9G. 



