226 Catalogue of the Birds of the Peninsula of India. [Oct. 



I have seen other species of Gull on the sea coast, but not having 

 procured specimens, refrain from noticing them at present. 



I have now brought to a conclusion this imperfect Catalogue, the chief 

 object of which has been an enumeration of all the birds found in 

 Southern India ; the few brief notes 1 have added having been hastily 

 drawn up, without method, to relieve the monotony of a bare list of names. 

 I purpose in a future, and I hope, an early number, to add a supplement, 

 containing the description of a few additional species I have obtained 

 since the first parts of the Catalogue were printed — and also to correct 

 several errors of nomenclature, and to add some brief additional notes 

 on the habits and geographical distribution of a few of the species, which 

 more recent and extended observations have enabled me to offer. 



The specimens on which my Catalogue was founded, are now on their 

 way home to a distinguished Ornithologist, and as soon as they are ex- 

 amined, and identified by him, I will in another supplement give the re- 

 sult of his examination, and a synopsis of all the species with their cor- 

 rect names and synonyraes. By way of rendering this part more gene- 

 rally useful, I may probably also add a synopsis of the different genera 

 found in India, and a brief description of all the species, so that it may 

 serve as a text book for the Peninsular birds, and supply to the ornitho- 

 logist in this country, the want of the numerous bulky and ill-compiled 

 works of reference, which often perplex as much as they inform. 



I trust also to be able to add to this, through the kindness of Walter 

 Hlliot, Esq., a list of the names of many of the birds in several of the 

 native languages, and in the native characters, by which collectors may 

 be much facilitated occasionally, both in the acquisition and identification 

 of various species. At a future period, I hope that my observations on 

 the habits and manners of many of the Indian birds may be so far extend- 

 ed as to enable me to publish a much more full and enlarged account 

 than I am now able to attempt, and illustrated by coloured figures of 

 many of the unfigured species. To enable me, however, to effect this, 

 I look confidently for the assistance and co-operation of other observers, 

 without which it will be impossible to present any thing like a tolerably 

 complete history of Indian Ornithology ; for, from the nature of a tropical 

 climate precluding much or constant exercise on the open air, and the 

 necessary occupations of most of the residents here, no one individual 

 can ever expect to give from his own observations a faithful transcript of 

 the habits and manners of even a limited number of the birds ; and it is 

 only from a series of detached observations, and from many individuals 

 co-operating together, that such a much wished for result can be obtained. 



