EDITOR'S NOTE. 



Mr. Hume has sufficiently explained the circumstances 

 under which this edition of his popular work has been 

 brought about. I have merely to add that, as I was engaged 

 on a work on the Birds of India, I thought it would be 

 easier for me than for anyone else to assist Mr. Hume. I 

 was also in England, and knew that my labour would be very 

 much lightened by passing the work through the press in this 

 country. Another reason, perhaps the most important, was 

 the fear that, as Mr. Hume had given up entirely and abso- 

 lutely the study of birds, the valuable material he had taken 

 such pains to accumulate for this edition might be irretriev- 

 ably lost or further injured by lapse of time unless early 

 steps were taken to utilize it. 



A few words of explanation appear necessary on the subject 

 of the arrangement of this edition. Mr. Hume is in no way 

 responsible for this arrangement nor for the nomenclature 

 employed. He may possibly disapprove of both. He, how- 

 ever, gave me his manuscript unreservedly, and left me free 

 to deal with it as I thought best, and I have to thank him 

 for reposing this confidence "in me. Left thus to my own 

 devices, I have considered it expedient to conform in all 



