this end in view, changes have been made freely, and the portions re. 

 latin g to the geographical distribution of the various species and sub- 

 species have been largely rewritten. In this task the editor has received 

 invaluable assistance from Mr. Eobert Bidgway, Curator of Birds in 

 the U. S, National Museum. 



The nomenclature adopted is that of the new Check List of the 

 American Ornithologists' Union, with the additions and corrections 

 contained in Bidgway's Manual of North American Birds, which, for- 

 tunately, became available just as this report was going to press. The 

 number in brackets following each name is that which the species bears 

 in Ridgway's Nomenclature of North American Birds, as published in 

 Bulletin 21 of the U. S. National Museum, 1881. 



The admirable map which accompanies this report has been prepared 

 under the supervision of Mr. Henry Gannett, chief geographer of the 

 TJ. S. Geological Survey. 



My own connection with the report has consisted in bringing together 

 under the head of each species the matter contributed separately for the 

 two years; in arranging it in accordance with the nomenclature of the 

 American Ornithologists' Union; in revising* the systematic portion 

 of the report (Part Second ) ; in incorporating the original Appendix t 

 into the body of the text, and in the editorial revision of the manu- 

 script of the whole report — a labor which, for the past year and a half, 

 has consumed all of the time not required in the performance of my 

 routine official duties. 



C. Hart Merriam, 



Editor. 



Washington, D. C, July 20, 1887. 



* This revision has consisted in rewriting the habitats of most of the species and 

 subspecies; in casting out some forms which had been included upon erroneous 

 identification or insufficient evidence; in correcting statements of fact ; in transfer- 

 ring (in a few cases) the notes sent under a stated species or subspecies to a nearly ref- 

 lated species or subspecies known to inhabit the region under consideration to the 

 exclusion of the form reported ; in the addition of a number of species and subspecies 

 now known to inhabit the region ; in the insertion of additional matter under species 

 already given ; in the inttTpolation of authorities for second-hand statements; and 

 in the omission of matter of questionable reliability. In all of these directions the 

 editor feels that the report is susceptible of still further improvement, but want of 

 time and reluctance to longer delay the publication of an already long-delayed and 

 much-clamored-for document must be his excuse for its incompleteness and imper- 

 fections. 



f The original appendix consisted of a very briefly annotated list of about one hundred 

 and forty birds supposed to inhabit the District, but concerning which no reports had 

 been received from our observers. Some of these have been eliminated, as resting upon 

 insufficient evidence ; the remainder, for the convenience of those who use this book, 

 have been incorporated in their proper places in the general text, accompanied by a 

 statement of their geographical distribution, and such other facts of interest as might 

 be added without too greatly increasing the bulk of the report. 



