INTRODUCTION. vii 
The avifauna of Egypt north of the Ist Cataract comprises only 
four truly Ethiopian species: Centropus senegalensis, Rhynchops flavi- 
ventris, Charadrius pecuarius, and Gdicnemus senegalensis; while a fairly 
large proportion of the true Palearctic species are found there, such as the 
Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Blackbird, Robin, Starling, Rook, Grey Crow, 
Merlin, Goshawk, Golden Plover, &c. 
In such a compact continent as Africa we cannot expect to find very 
sharply-defined geographical districts for the avifauna—forests, deserts, 
plains, and mountains much affect the rainfall and consequently the 
climate ; otherwise there are no special obstacles to prevent a wide 
distribution of the species, except the sea. 
Five subregions will be recognized, limited by lines of latitude and 
longitude, instead of trying to follow more closely the somewhat imaginary 
outlines of these areas. 
W.—Wesr Arrica: consisting of Tropical Africa west of 25° E. long., 
fo) } to) 
and southwards to the Quanza River, in about 10° S. lat. 
S.—Sourn Arrica: south of 10° S. lat. and from 50° W. long. to 
41° EK. long.; this includes the African continent south of the 
Quanza and Rovuma Rivers, St. Helena on the west, but not 
the Comoro Islands on the east, and may include in the 
Southern Ocean the Crozet and Marion Islands, which are 
north of 50° S. lat. 
E.—East Arrica: Tropical Africa, east of 25° E. long. and between 
10° 8. lat. and 1° N. lat., including the Victoria Nyanza, but 
not the Nile. 
N.E.—Nortu-rast Arrica: Tropical Africa and the Red Sea, east of 
25° E. long., 
Nile water-shed north to Asuan. 
north of 1° N. lat., including the whole of the 
M.—Mapagascar: the island region between 41° and 65° E. long., 
from the Equator to 25° S. lat. 
Before concluding the present remarks, I must express my thanks 
to the many naturalists who have assisted me. In the first place, I am 
most indebted to the British Museum, and to the many contributors to 
the ‘Catalogue’ of the birds. This Catalogue was first started by my 
