PREFACE. 



AT the first Congress of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, held in New Y^ric, 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 Hen- 

 shaw. 



The Committee, having held numerous sessions in Washing- 

 ton 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 en the Revision of 

 the Nomenclature and Classification of North Ameircan 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 P.eport 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 on 

 the 2 1st of April, 1885, when the Report of the Committee was 



