vi 



INTRODUCTION. 



the lists of synonimes ; and still further to obviate any incon- 

 venience in reference, I have added an alphabetical Index of 

 the generic and specific names adopted in the body of the work. 



VIII. Recently, it has been the chief business of those who 

 call themselves Naturalists, to alter and. invent names, some- 

 times with, but often with no advantage. Having small inclina- 

 tion to employ myself in such task-work, I have made extremely 

 few alterations in this respect, and I have only changed five names, 

 which served to propagate error or absurdity : — such as Anor- 

 thura, for Troglodytes ; Fringilla spiza, for F, ccelebs; Mota- 

 cilla Lotor, for M. alba ; Corvus predatorius, for C.frugile- 

 gus ; and Nyctichelidon, for Capri mulgiis. To say that these 

 erroneous names are only distinctive appellations, implying no 

 more error than the surname of White to a negro, or of King 

 to a scavenger, is at once to confess the imperfection of what is 

 called scientific nomenclature. 



IX. The new matter, which is marked by one * before and 

 another * after it, consists of communications made by Colonel 

 Montagu himself to the Linnsean Transactions, &c, always given in 

 the first person plural ; of numerous facts and details from eminent 

 living naturalists, both British and Foreign ; of several which have 

 fallen under my own observation, always given in the first person 

 singular; and of new characters of genera, chiefly from Tem- 

 minck, it being considered an improvement to introduce these 

 instead of Colonel Montagu's, many of which are somewhat 

 obsolete. 



