50 First Draft of a Conspectus of the Avifauna of India, 8fc. 



his numbers to which the species is alhed. I shall also add^ 

 for convenience of reference, one serial number for tlie whole cata- 

 logue. I shall indicate, under each species, all specimens (adult 

 or immature, male or female, distinguishing- these) procured 

 and eggs obtained within our limits,"^ contained in mj museum, 

 with locality, and, where this seems likely to be useful, the length 

 of wing of each, and the other dimensions of a certain number 

 of specimens that have been carefully measured in the flesh. 



I shall give descriptions and measurements, so far as I have 

 been able to secure these, of all species not included in Jerdon^s 

 Birds of India. 



I shall give the same of some species which ai-e so included, 

 where this, for any reason, seems likely to be useful. 



I shall, in many cases, give notes, having, for their object the 

 identification of, or the discrim'ntit'on of, nearly allied species. 

 I shall give the whole of the information I possess, as to the 

 nidification of each species within our limits, with descriptions 

 jind dimensions of eggs and nests, seasons of breeding, &c. ; but 

 I must note that the species of which I can furnish all these 

 particulars will fall short of 400. 



I do not propose, in this " first draft,''^ except in very excep- 

 tional cases, to discuss habits (except as regards nidification), 

 affinities (except where absolutely necessary for the discrimi- 

 nation of our oivn species), or habitat (except so far as may be 

 necessary to justify the inclusion of a species in our Avifauna) . 

 These subjects, together with a thorough elucidation of synony- 

 my, must lie over until (if such a time should ever come) I have 

 leisure really to devote myself to the work of fusing the great 

 mass of materials I have accumulated. 



Undertaken as this work is, amidst the pressure of heavy and 

 responsible public duties, disposed of, as it must be, in a great 

 hurry and, worst of all, performed as it will be by one so little 

 competent as myself, it will, it is needless to say, teem with 

 errors of greater or less gravity. Still, I am assured that, not- 

 withstanding this serious drawback, this catalogue will be of 

 great use, not only to the numerous gentlemen who so kindly 

 collect for me, but also to others interested in Indian Ornitho- 

 logy, and that it will serve as a sort of basis upon which here- 

 after some abler ornithologist, less occupied with other matters 

 than myself, may produce some more worthy record of our 

 Indian Avifauna. 



A. O. H. 



* I estimate these at about 12,000 of the former and 10,000 of the latter, 

 . after excluding as I am now doing, several thousand specimens, in excess of 

 what are required for the fullest illustration of the species. 



