PREFACE. 
TuE object of this Appendix is to complete, as far as possible, my 
List of the Genera of Birds, the purpose of which was to bring to- 
gether at one view all the genera established by different authors in 
this branch of study, and thus to obviate, in one division of the 
animal kingdom, a want that had long been felt. A more striking 
illustration of the necessity of such a list can hardly be given than 
is afforded by the complete neglect which has attended the principal 
work referred to in the following pages (Kaup’s Skizzirte Entwicke- 
lungs-Geschichte und Natiirliches System der Europdischen Thier- 
welt) ; which, although published in 1829, has hitherto escaped the 
notice of all systematic writers, and would not have been known to 
myself, but that my attention was accidentally drawn to it by the 
references in a list of generic names used in natural history, which 
M. Agassiz is about to publish. M. Kaup’s work has, it is true, 
some very fanciful peculiarities as regards arrangement, and he has 
undoubtedly carried his subdivision of genera beyond what is likely 
to be adopted, at least by the present generation of naturalists. But 
I still adhere to the rule laid down by the late Mr. Vigors, that in a 
work like the present aé/ the genera of authors should be quoted ; 
and I have therefore given in this Appendix the whole of those pro- 
posed by M. Kaup, together with their types, leaving it to ornitho- 
logists to adopt them or not according to their individual opinions 
of their validity, and thus doing what in me lies to prevent the appli- 
cation of a new series of names to the groups referred to, in case 
future writers should be disposed to regard them as possessing 
generic importance. In a few cases M. Kaup’s names, by right of 
priority, will displace those of more recent authors, who were, I am 
sure, as little aware as myself of his having preceded them, and who 
will readily, I doubt not, admit his claims as soon as they become 
acquainted with his work. 
