vi PREFACE. 
the Himalayas (including Sime Java, Borneo, the 
Philippine Islands, Formosa and Madagascar). 
4. The AUSTRALIAN REGION, embracing the Moluc- 
cas, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and most of 
the Pacific islands. 
5. The NEARCTIC REGION, embracing North America 
(excluding Mexico) and Greenland. 
6. The NEOTROPICAL REGION, embracing Mexico, 
Central America, the West Indies and the whole of South 
America. 
The present work is intended to treat of Auropean 
Birds only, but it is by no means easy in some cases to 
decide which species deserve to be thus described. Two 
Appendices will therefore be added: one comprising a 
list of strictly Asiatic or African birds which have only 
casually occurred within European limits; the other a 
list of the Nearctic (North American) species, of which 
records are extant in Europe. 
I have purposely omitted any description of young 
birds “in down.” In all cases, the only really safe guide 
to the determination of their species is to be supplied by 
identifying the parent bird ; and careful observation will 
usually ensure the desired result. 
Though, in almost every description hereafter given, - 
some of the more peculiarly characteristic features of the 
various species have been indicated by the use of italic 
type, it is to be understood that though these are notified 
as having special significance in studying a particular 
species, care should always be taken to read through 
