Preface. ix 



which about eight thousand illustrate the 

 groups included in this volume. One 

 cannot but admire the skill with which 

 this stupendous collection is arranged and 

 made available for reference and study. It 

 ought to be the aim of every Englishman 

 abroad, who devotes his attention to birds, 

 to render this collection still more com- 

 plete by presenting to it specimens of rare 

 and little-known species. 



My thanks are due to Sir W. H. Flower, 

 the Director of the Natural History 

 Museum, South Kensington, for allowing 

 me free access to the bird collection ; also 

 to Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, the Assistant 

 Keeper of the Vertebrate Section, and to 

 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant, his colleague in 

 the Bird Department, for the assistance 

 they have constantly and ungrudgingly 

 given me. 



Eugene W, Gates. 



I Carlton Gardens, 



Ealing, London. 



