INTEODUCTIOK 



These twelve Plates were originally intended by my brother, Dr. J. E. Gray, 

 to form part of a series of figures of Chinese birds ; but, owing to engage- 

 ments on other works, Avhich have appeared in the mean time, they were put 

 aside and have thus remained up to the present period. It will readily be 

 seen that these plates were designed and placed on stone by the late William 

 Swainson, author of the ' Zoological Illustrations ' and other works ; and it is 

 thought by Dr. Gray, who has asked me to prepare some notes to accompany them, 

 that the appearance of these correct and artistic delineations may add to the 

 knowledge of the species represented. Consul Swinhoe has done much of late 

 towards the elucidation of the Avifauna of China and its islands. The revised 

 catalogue published by him in the ' Proceedings of the Zoological Society ' for 

 1871 consists of 675 well-defined species of birds. 



G. R. GRAY, 



NovcmlK'i' 1st, 1871. 



