PREFACE. 



The present volume is the second of a series which will probably 

 require eight volumes for completion. It contains the following fami- 

 lies: Tanagridse (Tanagers), Icteridse (Troupials), CoerebidEe (Honey 

 Creepers), and Mniotiltidse (Wood Warblers). Part I, issued in 1901, 

 included the Family Fringillidse (Finches) alone. Part III, which is 

 well under way, will include the Motacillidse (Wagtails and Pipits), 

 Hirundinidse (Swallows), Vireonidse (Vireos), Ampelidee (Waxwings), 

 Ptiliogonatidae (Silken Chatterers), Dulidse (Palm Chatterers), Laniidee 

 (Shrikes), Corvidag (Crows and Jays), Paridse (Titmice), Sittidee 

 (Nuthatches), Certhiidse (Creepers), Troglodytidse (Wrens), Cinclidse 

 (Dippers), Chamseiidse (Wren-tits), and Sylviidse (Kinglets, etc.), and 

 will probably go to press some time during the present year. The 

 remaining volumes are all in a more or less advanced stage of prepara- 

 tion^ and it is hoped that these may follow at the rate of two a year. 



Acknowledgments for the loan of material for use in the prepara- 

 tion of the present volume are due to the persons and public institu- 

 tions mentioned in Part I (pages xii, xiii), and also to Dr. A. K. Fisher, 

 Mr. William Palmer, and Mr. Paul Bartsch, of Washington, District 

 of Columbia. Both Dr. Fisher and Mr. Palmer should have been 

 mentioned in Part I in this connection, and the inadvertent omission 

 of their names is much regretted. 



Most of the measurements of specimens for the present volume were 

 made by Mr. J. H. Riley, Mr. Sidney S. Wilson, and Miss Frances E. 

 Swett. 



Robert Ridgway. 



September 6, 1902. 



