PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



AT the first Congress of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, held in New York, September 26-29, 1883, the 

 following resolution was adopted : — 



''^ Resolved^ That the Chairman appoint a Committee of five, 

 including himself, to whom shall be referred the question of a Re- 

 vision of the Classification and Nomenclature of the Birds of North 

 America." 



In pursuance of this resolution the following Committee was 

 appointed : Messrs. Coues, Allen, Ridgway, Brewster, and 

 Henshaw. ^ 



The Committee, having held numerous sessions in Wash- 

 ington and New York, presented its Report at the second Con- 

 gress of the Union, held in New York, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, 

 1884, when the following resolution was adopted : — 



" Resolved^ That the Report of the Committee on the Revision of 

 the Nomenclature and Classification of North American Birds be ac- 

 cepted and adopted, and that it be recommitted to the Committee, 

 with instructions to complete and submit it to the Council as soon as 

 practicable ; and that the Council be empowered and instructed to 

 accept and adopt the Report as finally rendered, with such modifica- 

 tions as they may deem necessary, and to publish the same, copy- 

 righted, in part or in whole, and in one or more forms, in the name 

 and under the auspices of the American Ornithologists' Union." 



The Committee, having continued its sessions, presented its 

 final report to the Council at a meeting held in Washington 



