PREFACE. 



The present catalogue, although based essentially upon the 

 list published in 1874, in the Annals of the Lyceum of Natural 

 History of ]^ew York (vol, x. pp. 364—94) is rendered much 

 more complete by the addition of nearly thirty species, and 

 man}' facts which have been brought to light by subsequent 

 investigations. The most important sources from which this 

 additional information has been derived are the several lists of 

 Illinois birds pubhshed by my friend Mr. E. W. Nelson, i of 

 Chicago (now U. S. Signal Observer at St. Michaels, Alaska), 

 but I have also been furnished with many interesting facts 

 through correspondence with persons actively engaged in the 

 'study of the ornithology of the state, among whom I may 

 especially mention Dr. J. W. Velie, of the Chicago Academy of 

 Sciences, Mr. H. K. Coale, of Chicago, and Mr. C. K. Worthen, 

 of Warsaw; the information thus derived being duly acknowl- 

 edged in the proper places. 



To the 311 species of the catalogue of 1S74, there are here 

 added 31, which would bring the total number known to occur 

 in Illinois up to 342 were it not for the fact that one species 

 (PodlGeps cristatus) was included upon erroneous information, 

 and is therefore eliminated. Of the 341 species enumerated 

 herein, no less than 213 are positively ascertained to breed 

 within the limits of the state. Not a single species has been 

 included except upon good authority, while, on the other hand, 

 several are excluded on account of not having been actually cap- 

 tured within the state, though some of them have been secured 

 near Racine, Wisconsin, in the extreme southeastern corner 

 of Wisconsin, rendering it therefore extremely ])robable that 

 individuals of the species in question have at one time or another 



iFor the titles of these, see pp. 168-170. 



