xxiv INTRODUCTION. 



the scattered information regarding the Avifauna of British India, into 

 a systematic account, and, as stated in the Prospectus, arranged 

 according to the most modern and generally accepted classification. 

 Though seemingly simple, even this little of the ist volume has 

 involved considerable labour and research. The whole of it cannot 

 well be successfully accomplished without aid. Up to the present 

 very little of this has been received, though the calls have been 

 unceasing, and it has been left for me to work single-handed, assist- 

 ed by only a few to the best of their abilities, when freed from the 

 weighty cares of their office. Among those to whom I am under 

 special obligation I would mention Mr. W. F. Sinclair, the Collector 

 of Colaba, and Mr. J. Davidson, the Collector of Khandeish, both of 

 whom very kindly furnished me with such specimens as they could 

 obtain from their respective districts. To Lieutenant Henry E. 

 Barnes, D.A.C., I am also indebted for many valuable notes in 

 regard to nidification, &c., while the kindness of Mr. A. O. 

 Hume, C.B., in sending me, some little time ago, a large collection of 

 birds from British Burmah and the Himalayas generally, has helped 

 me considerably in more accurately describing and comparing birds, 

 which till very recently were almost unknown. I have also to acknow- 

 ledge the assistance received from Mr. Charles Taylor, Superintendent 

 of the Education Society's Press, in generally gettingthis work through 

 the press with that care and neatness which is evident on every 

 page, and in continuing the publication of the work in anticipation of 

 better results, the total amount of subscription to date being, 

 including the coloured plates far less than the cost of production. 



Lastly, I have to tender my acknowledgements to Dr. Gerson da 

 Cunha, F.R.A.L., &c., and to Mr. Thomas Lidbetter for assistance given 

 in precisely the most important direction, viz., introduction to the 

 library of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, where 

 I have the opportunity of consulting several important works which 

 would have been otherwise inaccessible to me. 





