INTRODUCTION. 



THE system of classification followed in the present Ciassifi- 

 volume is that which was set forth by Mr. P. L. Sclater catlon - 

 in the ' Ibis '' for 1880, and which has since been adopted 

 by many ornithologists. 



This scheme commences with the PA8SERES, the most 

 highly specialised of birds, and ends with the TURBINARES, 

 which exhibit the nearest affinities to reptiles. 



In the selection for treatment of those Orders which 

 include chiefly birds of aquatic habits, it seems inadvisable, 

 from a systematic standpoint, to omit the few species which 

 happen to resort to dry situations. Thus from the Order 

 GRALL^E the Bustards are not excluded ; furthermore, 

 considering the affinities of these birds with the LIMICOLJE, 

 an Order consisting almost entirely of birds structurally 

 adapted for a more or less aquatic life their admission 

 to the text would appear all the more desirable. But on 

 the other hand the Order PASSERES, mainly composed of 

 land-birds, is excluded, although it contains species such 

 as the Dipper, Sedge- Warbler, and others, which live by 

 streams and marshes. 



The Cormorants and the Gannet (STEGANOPODES) 

 occupy the opening pages ; next follow the Herons and their 

 allies (HERODIONES), the Flamingoes (ODONTOGLOSS^E), 

 and the Geese, Swans, and Ducks (ANSERES). 



Passing: over three Orders of land-birds (COLUMBjE, 

 PTEROCLETES, and GALLING), next come the Bails, 

 Cranes, and Bustards (GRALUE), the Plovers, Snipes, 

 Sandpipers, Curlews, and their allies (L1MICOLJS), the 

 Terns, Gulls, and Skuas (GAYLffi), the Auks (ALOffi), the 

 Divers and Grebes (PYGOPODES), and lastly the Petrels, 

 Shearwaters, Fulmars, and Albatrosses (TURBINARES). 



It will be seen, therefore, that the present work deals 

 not only with the widely-separated Orders of web-footed 

 birds, but also with wading-birds, many of which latter 

 take freely to the water, and often wade so deeply as to 

 be carried off their feet, when they will frequently swim for 

 a certain distance, while some such as the Water-hen, the 



