PREFACE 



Since the completion of the ' Birds of Europe,' I have several times contemplated 

 the issue of a Supplement, but have deferred so doing until I had collected sufficient 

 material to make a volume at least as large as any one of those forming the original 

 work. It was suggested to me by more than one subscriber that I should revise 

 each article in the original work, bringing the same up to date ; but I found that 

 a thorough revision, adding all the material that has since accumulated, would fill 

 at least three if not four volumes, and that it would really be tantamount to 

 bringing out a new edition, and I have therefore preferred merely to treat of such 

 species as have to be added to those in the original work, and should a new edition 

 be required I shall probably issue the same in the form of a concise handbook, 

 condensing the information into as small a space as possible. 



Some years ago I removed my library and collections to a house I built in 

 Kent, and there the present volume has been written ; but as it was necessary to 

 publish the work, as before, in London, it has, like the first eight volumes, been 

 published, thanks to the courtesy of the President and Council of the Zoological 

 Society, at their office, 3 Hanover Square; and I have also to express my sincere 

 thanks for the great assistance I have received from them, and from Mr. Water- 

 house, their Librarian, in sending down books of reference when I was unable to 

 spare the time to consult them in the Society's rich library, and also for aid 

 in hunting up and verifying obscure references. 



To the various friends, whose names are mentioned in the following pages, 



who have, as before, rendered me assistance during the progress of the work, 



I take this opportunity of tendering my hearty thanks. Many of those who so 



largely assisted me during the issue of the original work have unfortunately 



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