PREFACE. 



Professor Flower was so good as to read over my chapters on 

 extinct animals, and to point out several errors into which I had 

 fallen. 



Dr. Giinther gave me much valuable information on the 

 classification of reptiles, marking on my lists the best established 

 and most natural genera, and referring me to reliable sources of 

 information. 



I am also greatly indebted to the following gentlemen for 

 detailed information on special subjects : — 



To Sir Victor Brooke, for a MS. arrangement of the genera 

 of Bovidpe, with the details of their distribution : 



To Mr. Dresser, for lists of the characteristic birds of Northern 

 and Arctic Europe : 



To Dr. Hooker, for information on the colours and odours of 

 New Zealand plants : 



To Mr. Kirby, for a list of the butterflies of Chili : 



To Professor Mivart, for a classification of the Batrachia, and 

 an early proof of his article on " Apes " in the Encyclopedia 

 Britannica : 



To Mr. Salvin, for correcting my list of the birds of the 

 Galapagos, and for other assistance: 



To Mr. Sharpe, for MS. lists of the birds of Madagascar 

 and the Cape Verd Islands : 



To Canon Tristram, for a detailed arrangement of the difficult 

 family of the warblers, — Sylviidse : 



To Viscount Walden, for notes on the systematic arrangement 

 of the Pycnouotidte and Timaliida?, and for an early proof of 

 his list of the birds of the Philippine Islands. 



I also have to thank many naturalists, both in this coun- 

 try and abroad, who have sent me copies of their papers; 

 and I trust they will continue to favour me in the same 

 manner. 



