Xli INTRODUCTION. 



several eggs were received from Mr. C. A. Barnard, a well-known 

 collector in New Guinea and Northern Australia; Mr. E. S. 

 Moulden of Adelaide also presented some interesting specimens ; 

 and a few eggs, taken by Mr. A. B. Percival in British Central 

 Africa, were also purchased. 



Since the commencement of 1901 a very fine collection of the 

 eggs of Chinese birds has been presented by Mr. C. B. Ilickett. 

 Sir George Newnes has also given to the Museum a first set of the 

 specimens brought back by the ' Southern Cross ' Expedition to 

 the Antarctic Ocean. This selection comprises the eggs of three 

 species of sea-birds not previously represented in the Museum. 



In addition to the above, it will be seen from the following pages 

 that presents of specimens have been received from many naturalists. 

 Among these may be mentioned the Hon. C. Baring, the late 

 A. H. Everett, Colonel H. W. Feilden, Mr. W. E. Ogilvie Grant, 

 Dr. A. Giinther, Mr. Charles Hose, Colonel L. H. Irby, Mr. F. G. 

 Jackson, Mr. F. J. Jackson, C.B., Sir H. H. Johnston, K.C.B., 

 th*e late Lord Lilford, the late Sir Henry Peek, Captain G. Savile 

 Keid, Dr. P. L. Sclater, Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, and Mr. E. J. 

 Ussher. Many valuable eggs, laid in confinement, have been 

 presented from time to time by the Zoological Society of 

 London. 



In this Catalogue, the arrangement and nomenclature of Dr. 

 Bowdler Sharpe's ' Hand-list of the Genera and Species of Birds ' 

 have been adopted. This ' Hand-list ' and the ' Catalogue of the 

 Birds in the British Museum' have been invariably quoted through- 

 out the present work. The other references have been selected with 

 the view to present as complete a history of the eggs and nesting- 

 habits as possible. Good figures of the eggs are quoted, and 

 especial reference has been made to those authors whose reports, or 

 papers in periodical literature, treat of the particular specimens 

 in the Collection with which their names are associated. 



The birds included in this volume embrace the Ratitcv and that 

 portion of the Carinatce extending in the ' Hand-list ' from the 

 Tinamiformes to the Lariformes. The total number of species 

 is 520 and of specimens 12,156, distributed in the following 

 manner : 



