PREFACE. IX 



C*ourier, Pratincole, and Penguin ; and in the present work the 

 Secretary, Honey-eater, Barbican, Coucal, Malkoha, Emeu, Erody, 

 and Finfoot. To go further than this, would, perhaps, entangle the 

 reader, and too much load his memory, to little purpose ; for though 

 it may be objected, that any particular bird may not answer exactly 

 to the definition of a genus, in every minute point, yet, if it be found 

 to coincide in most of the characters, it ought to be admitted, rather 

 than to form a new geniis for it ; especially, if such bird is one 

 already known and received ; otherwise the reader will have to 

 seaich for it under a disguise, and not readily find what he wants. 



It will be observed, in many cases, that birds are said to be in 

 various cabinets, not now in existence — but it must be remembered, 

 that at the time of first penning the Synopsis, and long after, the 

 Leverian Museum was in full preservation. Many subjects also, 

 referred to in the British Museum, have since* fallen into decay ; and 

 the verv numerous and choice articles then in Mr. Bullock's noble 

 collection are now dispersed. The reader has, therefore, to rely on 

 the author only for the descriptions, 



To a cursory observer it may appear, that a full description of 

 any bird, suspected to be simply a variety of a species already known, 

 was unnecessary; but it has been judged right to detail the plumage, 

 that in case any person should meet with a specimen similar in colour, 

 and answering to the description, he may be less at a loss to refer it 

 to the species it belongs to; and the reader will not, we presume, be 

 displeased to find the numerous references to the authors who have 

 mentioned the respective species, more especially those in which there 



