lymODTJCTION. 



Genera. Species. 



Tarn. XXXIX. Sturnidte 12 60 



„ XL. Eulabetidte 40 145 



„ XLI. Pararaythiidte 1 1 



„ XLII. BuphagidEB 1 2 



„ XLIII. OriolidfB 3 70 



„ XLIV. Dicnirida! 12 63 



„ XLV. Paradiseidse '. . 31 70^- 



XLVI. Ptilonorhyncliidffi 14 36 



„ XLVII. CorvidsB . 43 330 



„ XLVIII. Streperid* 1 8 



644 4957 



The total number of known species of Birds is, therefore, approxi- 

 mately as follows : — ' 



Genera. Species. 



Vol. 1 865 4261 



Vol. II 449 3099 



Vol, III 427 3311 



Vol. IV 425 3311 



Vol. V 644 4957 



2810 18,939 



In 1871, when nij' predecessor, George Eobert Gray, finished, his 

 'Hand-list of Birds,' he admitted 2915 genera and 11,162 species of 

 Birds, so that a vast increase in the number of described species has 

 taken place during the past 38 years. 



A large number of the genera recorded by Gray had no real existence, 

 and ICOO would probably be an outside estimate for the number then 

 actually recognisable. 



Dr. Dubois, iu his lately completed ' Systeraa Avium,' gives 12,509 

 species of birds witli 3969 "varieties," making a total of 16,478 species 

 and subspecies or varieties, divided under the headings of 2252 genera. 



E. BOWDLER SHARPE. 



Aiigust 24, 1909. 



