PREFACE. XI 



it is hoped will place it within the reach of every student, it 

 has been found impossible to figure every species. The plates 

 have all been coloured from specimens in the British Museum, 

 and several pictures by Mr. Keulemans have been added to 

 illustrate certain representative species of British Birds, while 

 others will be given in the succeeding volumes. 



Our especial thanks are due to the Council of the Royal 

 College of Surgeons for permission to use the woodcuts from 

 their "Osteological" Catalogue; to Mr. Howard Saunders for the 

 kindly help he has rendered during the progress of the volume 

 through the press ; and to Mr. Robert Read, who was good 

 enough to send us some original notes on nests and eggs, which 

 unfortunately reached us too late to be included in their en- 

 tirety. 



R. BOWDLER SHARPE. 



