Dee eee 
PREFAVORY  “N@O@E: 
THE present instalment completes the fifth volume of the 
late Captain Shelley’s great undertaking. 
Soon after the appearance of the first part of the present 
volume in 1906, the author was struck down by a sudden 
illness—a stroke of paralysis—and although he lived on 
till November 29, 1910, he was unable to continue his 
labours. 
The completion of his work, however, was constantly in | 
his thoughts, and shortly before his death I was asked by 
Mrs, Shelley if I would undertake this task. It was not, 
however, until afterwards, in the middle of last year, that the 
arrangements could be made for doing so. Mrs. Shelley then 
handed over to me all the MSS. and the proofs of four sheets 
which were already in type. 
The plan and arrangement of the present part 1s mainly 
that of the late Captain Shelley, and my task has been to 
supply descriptions of some of the species, many of which 
were very incomplete, to revise the whole in the light of 
the additional facts and discoveries of the last six years, 
and to pass the work through the press. I am indebted 
fo my father,-Ma (Pde Sclater, for having read through 
the proofs for me, and to Mr. Ogilvie Grant for much help 
and many facilities afforded to me in the Bird Room at the 
British Museum. 
It is hoped that the work may be completed in four or 
five more volumes. 
W: Le SGLATER: 
JES LO: 
