PREFACE. V 



Witli regard to tlie arrangement, I have exactly 

 followed that admirable one given by Mr. Vigors in 

 the second volume of the Zoological Journal, as it 

 seems by far the nearest approach I have yet seen to 

 that beautiful and delicate chain of affinities by 

 which Nature loves to connect her works. If I might 

 venture to comment upon an order of so high autho- 

 rity, or rather to decide between two authorities I so 

 highly respect, I would prefer some slight alterations 

 made by Mr. Selby in his truly valuable new edition 

 of the British Ornithology, such as removing the 

 genus Trogon from the Cuculidce, and Coracias from 

 the Corvidce, into the Fissirostres ; but I have thought 

 it better to retain entire the splendid scheme of 

 Mr. Vigors, than to hazard spoiling it by interpola- 

 tions of my own. 



I trust that Mr. Prince's labours — for I will not 

 call them my own — may have the effect of calling 

 forth some better work from abler hands. Certes, 

 should they be instrumental in easing the labours 

 and facilitating the progress of one student of the 

 most fascinating and, perhaps, least perfectly de- 

 scribed branch of Natural History, I shall be over- 

 paid. 



T. B. L. BAKER. 



