PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION OF PART II. 



This Part II of the Catalogue of the Australian Birds contains 

 a description of all the species of the Striges or Nocturnal Birds 

 of Prey at present known to inhabit Australia — in all 14 species 

 — and a list of such as are contained in the collection of the 

 Australian Museum. Opportunity has also been taken to add an 

 Appendix to the Accipitres or Diurnal Birds of Prey, as in man}- 

 instances the young of these species have not been previously 

 described. Measurements of a large series of Gj'poictitiia melan- 

 ostcrnon, Gould, have also been added, as well as those of 

 authentic specimens of Astur criientus, Gould.*' The author has 

 endeavoured to make these descriptions as concise as possible, 

 but the material in some instances has not been as large as could 

 be desired. In addition to those specimens in the Australian 

 Museum, private collections have been examined, notably that 

 of the Macleayan ]\Iuseum and the Dobroyde Collection. In all 

 about 200 specimens have been examined coming from various 

 parts of Australia. We trust our correspondents in the country 

 will endeavour to complete our National Collection by forwarding 

 specimens ; those most required are the young of the various 

 species mentioned. 



E. P. RAMSAY. 

 Sydney, 1890. 



PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION OF PART II. 



In Part II has been added a description of the species of the 

 Striges or Nocturnal Birds of Prey, which previously were not 

 represented in the collection of the Australian Museum. Special 

 thanks are due to ]\Ir. C. W. DeVis, M.A., the Curator of the 

 Queensland Museum, for his assistance in the loan of specimens 

 of Nulox htnneralis and N. lun'da. 



ALFRED J. NORTH. 

 Sydney, 1898. 



* Which have now been incorporated in tlie new edition of Part I.— (A.J.N.) 



