viii PREFACE. 



incalculable service to Natural History, if they are only put in 

 the way of making observations. No better proof of this is 

 furnished than that of the army of Indian sportsmen, who, 

 encouraged and directed by that great ornithologist and sports- 

 man, Allan Hume, have done so much for the Ornithology of our 

 Eastern Empire, and set an example to sportsmen at home 

 which might be followed with inestimable profit to British Or- 

 nithology. By their aid the magnificent and unrivalled collec- 

 tion of Indian birds was formed, which now, thanks to the noble 

 generosity of Mr. Hume, forms a part of our National Collection 

 at South Kensington. 



Should the present volume be the means of creating a taste 

 for observation among those sportsmen who have hitherto been 

 neglectful of the scientific side of their pursuit, to the advantage 

 of Natural History, or prove of some help to the naturalist in 

 his studies of this important and interesting group of birds, the 

 labour involved in writing it will ever be recalled with pleasure. 



I desire also to place on record my great appreciation of the 

 work of my contemporaries, and my sincere thanks for the profit 

 of their experience ; also to acknowledge my gratitude to many 

 friends for valued information. My thanks are specially due to 

 my old friend Mr. F. H. Waterhouse, the courteous Librarian 

 to the Zoological Society of London, whose bibliographical 

 assistance, from time to time, has been invaluable. 



CHARLES DIXON. 



January, 1893. 



