VI PREFACE. 



Part VIII (now in course of preparation) will contain the Chara- 

 driiformes, which include the Shore Birds (Limicolse), Gulls (Lari), 

 and Auks (Alcse), together with their nearer allies. 



Iii the seven volumes thus far published are treated in detail (that 

 is, with full descriptions and synonymies), besides the Families 

 above mentioned and the higher groups to which they belong, 564 

 genera and 2,319 species and subspecies, besides 191 extralimital 

 genera and 561 extralimital species and subspecies whose diagnostic 

 characters are given in the ' 'Keys " and their principal synonymy (full 

 synonymy in case of the genera) given in footnotes. 



Acknowledgments are due to the same individuals and institu- 

 tions as those mentioned in previous volumes for the loan of speci- 

 mens .needed in the preparation of the present one ; also to the 

 State University of Iowa (through Prof. C. C. Nutting) for the 

 privilege of examining a series of 16 specimens of the Louisiana 

 Parroquet from the Indian Territory. 1 



To Dr. Charles W. Richmond, Acting Curator of the Division of 

 Birds, U. S. National Museum, the author is indebted for the privilege 

 of free access to his unique and extremely valuable card-catalogue 

 collection of references to the first publication of generic, specific, and 

 subspecifio names, for information concerning puzzling questions of 

 nomenclature, and invaluable help in reading proof sheets; and to 

 Mr. J. H. Riley, Aid in the Division of Birds, for assistance in various 

 ways. 



Measurements of specimens for use in the preparation of the 

 present volume were made by Miss Celestine B. Hodges, and the 

 original drawings of the outline figures illustrating generic details 

 (Pis. I-XXIV), except those previously published, were made by Miss 

 Helen E. Lewis, both of Washington, D. C. 



Robert Ridgway. 

 January 24, 1916. 



i Specimens borrowed for use in the preparation of this volume are as follows: 



American Museum of Natural History I,t69 



Museum of Comparative Zoology (chiefly the Bangs Collection) 1, 174 



Field Museum of Natural History 599 



Carnegie Museum 555 



Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 191 



William Brewster •. 52 



State University of Iowa 16 



Total 3,756 



Cuculidse 1 276 



Psittacidse ggg 



Columbidce 1 491 



