PREFACE 
THE plan and execution of the present work, which, it is hoped, 
will materially assist in lightening the labours of working Orni- 
thologists, are entirely due to Mr. Waterhouse. 
I have only assisted him by general advice, by looking over the 
proof-sheets, and by writing these few words of preface. 
It will be observed that, as its title implies, the ‘ Index Generum 
Avium’ consists merely of an alphabetical list of about 7000 terms 
that have been employed or suggested by various authors, since 
the date of the twelfth edition of Linneens’s ‘ Systema Nature,’ as 
generic and subgeneric names for Birds, and of references to the 
places and dates of their publication. No attempt has been made 
to discriminate between these various terms as to which of them 
should be most correctly employed. Such points are left for the 
decision of those who use the ‘Index.’ But so much time is often 
lost in ascertaining where and when a generic name was first given, 
that it is believed that the information thus accumulated in a handy 
form cannot fail to be of much practical value. 
The author does not profess that the ‘ Index ’.is complete, but 
as Librarian of the Zoological Society of London, and thus with 
one of the best series of ornithological books in the world at his 
command, he has done his utmost to render it free from errors and 
omissions. Except in the few cases where they are marked with 
an asterisk, all the references have been personally verified. 
The author wishes to express his acknowledgment of the liberality 
of the Council of the Society in contributing the sum of twenty- 
five pounds towards the cost of the present publication. Without 
such assistance it is obviously impossible that a work of this 
character could repay its expenses. 
P. L. SCLATER. 
3 Hanover Square, London, W. 
August rst, 1889. 
