PREFACE. 



The conclusion of this third volume finds our little local 

 Journal of Ornithology still flourishing and its Editor truly 

 grateful for the kindly, and now widely extended, support 

 that he continues to receive. 



During the past year I have made an attempt, (and it 

 must be admitted by no means a successful one,) to supply 

 my readers, with plates of some few new or nearly unknown 

 species. The object of course was to get these done, if possible, 

 in India, and thus, while avoiding the risk and delay attendant 

 on the transmission of specimens to Europe, to open out 

 a new field for the employment of the native pupils from our 

 schools of Art. 



This object 1 have entirely failed to attain ; I have met 

 with no native either competent or likely to become competent 

 to draw birds in a fairly artistic style and at the same time 

 in life-like positions. Native colorists I have found in 

 abundance, but the work of these is so slow and laboured, that 

 despite the comparatively low salaries they receive, the plates 

 cost double and treble what they would in Europe and are not 

 nearly so well done. 



The 3rd Plate was executed in England, and all future plates 

 must, I fear, for some time to come be similarly executed. A 

 few years hence when our schools of Art have been longer in 

 operation it may be possible to revive the attempt with success. 

 Carefully prepared local Avifaunas continue to be amongst 

 our leading desiderata. Stray Feathers has already, during 

 its ' brief existence of little more than 3 years, furnished a 

 considerable number of these, and several more are, I am happy 

 to learn, in different stages of preparation. 



At the earnest request of many Indian subscribers, I have 

 commenced the republication of all recently described species 

 which have occurred within the limits of our Empire. These re- 

 publications will be vigorously persevered in, and will be follow- 

 ed by descriptions of all other species, which though not recently 

 described are yet not included in Dr. Jerdon's work. I shall 

 then (D. V.) publish as an extra number, as complete a list of 

 the Birds of our Indian Empire as I can compile, with a refer- 

 ence in the case of each species to the page in Jerdon or in 

 Stray Feathers, at which it will be found described, as also to 



