PREFACE. 
Tue flattering marks of approbation bestowed by many European 
Ornithologists, both publicly and privately, on the former Edition 
of this Work, and the various remarks on the employment of names, 
ete., offered to me in the kindest manner by those who are interested 
in this branch of study, have induced me to publish a revised Edi- 
tion, incorporating these remarks with the numerous additions and 
corrections which I have myself been able to make since the period 
of its first publication. Such changes must continually take place 
in conformity with the progress of scientific knowledge ; and I hope 
by this means to add my best endeavours to the elucidation and dis- 
entanglement of the mass of synonymous names which have been 
proposed, to the great hindrance of the advancement of this, as well 
as of oiner branches of Natural Science. Much of the confused 
labyrinth of useless names is derived from authors who have pub- 
lished systems of Ornithology not being content with giving names 
to their own divisions, but proposing, without reason, new generic 
terms in place of those already in use. Owing to this practice, 
many genera (restricted in exactly the same degree) have received 
three or four synonymous appellations, which—to use an expression 
of Mr. Swainson—“ strikingly illustrates the inextricable confusion 
which now reigns throughout every part of Ornithological nomen- 
clature.” Synonymous names, however, are daily becoming more 
numerous, although “often deservedly,” as Dr. Richardson says, “ re- 
probated as creating a barrier to the advancement of the science.” 
“he essential object of this work was to endeavour to remove that 
urrier by the application of a daw which should fix the nomen- 
elature upon such strict grounds of justice, as that each Ornitholo- 
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