4 INTRODUCTION. 
Mackenzie, Ticehurst, Donald and others. There are many local 
catalogues, and, finally, Harington’s work on the Yimaliide, in 
which the writer had the pleasure of co-operating. 
Anatomy has not been treated at the length it deserves, but 
those who intend to take up this much neglected but most im- 
portant branch of ornithology should refer to the well-known 
works of Dr. Hans Gadow, Huxley, Garrod, Bronn, Fiirbringer, 
Forbes, Nitzsch and Parker, and to the more recent writers such 
as Pyeraft, Beddard and Lueas. 
The would-be Ornithologist in India must also remember that 
it is not only the dry skins of birds which are required by the 
systematist who, thcugh he may have the good fortune to work 
in big museums and other centres where masses of material are 
available for comparison and where good libraries are at hand for 
reference, yet urgently needs specimens, especially of the rarer 
forms in spirit, not only for anatomical purposes but for the 
study of Pterylosis ete. Again, poor skins of moulting birds are 
often more valuable than those in the finest condition of plumage, 
while the nestlings and young of many of the most common birds 
are still desiderata in the British Museum and other institutions. 
As regards nidification, it will be seen that I have devoted con- 
siderable space and detail to this portion of a bird’s life-history. 
It is true that birds cannot be classified according to the eggs 
they produce, but at the same time it is equally true that a bird’s 
egg may be a valuable clue to show us where we should expect to 
find its nearest allies or, on the other hand, may cause us to 
suspect that it should be removed from amongst those with which 
it is now placed. 
E. C. STUART BAKER. 
4th February, 1922. 
