Vi Preface. 



della Papuasia, etc.", reference is given to the authors of these works, to whom we 

 feel deeply indebted, as indeed every ornithologist will be. As to the abbrevia- 

 tion of authors' names, we had proceeded too far to remodel them M^hen the 

 German list was issued, but we have introduced the methods recommended there 

 at the headings of the species. 



We have never used the term "Malay Ai-chipelago", so much in vogue since 

 Wallace, because this expression is incorrect in this sense, that not all the inhabi- 

 tants of the islands comprehended are Malays. It is the "East Indian Archipelago" 

 of which we speak, having in view the island-world from Sumatra to the Solomon 

 Islands and from the Philippines to the Lesser Sundas. 



As to localities we have been as accurate as possible, but unfortunately it 

 is only in recent times that collectors have attached the exact locality to every 

 specimen. Formerly "Manila" meant the whole of the Philippines, "Manado" the 

 whole Minahassa (Northern Celebes), "Macassar" the southern part of Celebes; 

 though, for instance, Mi-. Wallace did not shoot all of his birds labelled Macassar 

 near that town, but some at Maros and elsewhere. Of course we could not 

 eliminate these inacciu-acies. The future writer on the Birds of Celebes will 

 happily have to deal with more exact data. 



Our artist, Mr. Geisler of the Dresden Museum, wishes us to draw attention 

 to the cu-cumstance that the dull colours of some of our plates have been inten- 

 tionally used at our request, the exact hue of the specimen painted being aimed 

 at, sometimes at tlie cost of the artistic etfect and clearness of tint usually seen 

 in the English productions. 



And now we have the agreeable duty of thanking all those who have lent us 

 their welcome aid during our six years' work. In the first place Dr. P. and 

 Dr. F. Sara sin of Basel, who i)laced their highly valuable and important collections 

 entirely at our disposal; and not less the Hon. Walter Rothschild of Tring, 

 who joined us in engaging native hunters for completing our collections and for 

 making investigations on much new ground in our Area, as will be seen throughout 

 the book. Mr. Nehrkorn of Riddagshausen most generously furnished us with 

 a MS. descriptive of the eggs of Celebesian birds in his celebrated collection, and 

 many are now described for the first time. Dr. van der Stok of Batavia and 

 Prof. Neuraayer of Hamburg helped us with our meteorological maps, as 

 mentioned pp. 21 and 37 of the Introduction. Dr. Bowdler Sharpe of London had 

 the great kindness to send us the proof-sheets of his part of vol. XXVI of the 

 "Catalogue of Birds", not yet out. Mr. Veen of Kele Londej (Minahassa) and 

 Mr. North of Sydney sent us some notes bearing upon the question of migration, 



