PREPO 
Is the interval of time which has elapsed since my first Monograph of the Pittidæ was 
completed, now thirty years ago, not only have many new and beautiful species been 
discovered, but much information of the economy and habits, even of those birds long 
known to us, has been obtained, and it seemed that the time had arrived to gather all 
our knowledge of these attractive creatures into one publication, and exhibit the portraits 
of the new forms—or, in other words, produce an entirely new Monograph. This is what 
the present work purports to be. I have discarded the text of the earlier Monograph, and 
have written this one, beginning with the first records of these birds that were admissible 
in our science, as if the subject had only now for the first time engaged my attention. A 
few of the Plates of the first edition have been retained in this one, but the majority are 
new drawings by Mr. W. Hart of London, made, unless otherwise stated, from specimens 
in the collection of the British Museum. How well Mr. Hart has accomplished his 
portion of the task, a glance at the beautiful Plates will readily testify. In the plan of the 
work the method I have been accustomed to adopt in all of my illustrated Monographs 
has been followed, and it has been my endeavour to include in the text all the information 
accessible that could be desired either by the ornithologist or casual reader. Errors may 
have crept in (they generally do), but especial care has been taken to reduce them to a 
minimum. We cannot, happily for us, all think alike, but wherever I have differed from 
my brother naturalists my decision has only been formed after careful study and the 
reasons for my conclusions clearly given. 
It is with pleasure I offer my thanks to those who have assisted me in any way in my 
work. And first of my friends I desire to name Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe for kindly 
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