INTRODUCTION. 
xxiii 
detail. I have in every instance given the original references to all names 
which have passed current among ornithologists. I have also in every 
instance quoted Jerdon^s ' Birds of India/ Legge's ' Ceylon/ David and 
Oustalet^s ' China/ and Salvadori^s ^ Borneo.^ Copious references will also 
be found to Lord Tweeddale^s writings_, to ' Stray Feathers/ and to Mr. 
Blyth^s Catalogue. I have endeavoured to give every reference which 
contains interesting matter relative to habits_, nidification or critical 
discussion. 
I have next described the bird as fully as possible from the best materials 
at my disposal^ and have given brief^ average measurements. Nothing_, in 
my opinion, is more useles s than extremely minute measurements, and I 
have, as a rule, selected a good typical specimen for measurement. The 
variations will perhaps vary five per cent, on either side of the measure- 
ments given by me. 
I have next given the distribution of the bird in Burmah. This in most 
cases has been done in considerable detail, but I have carefully avoided 
quoting the names of obscure villages. 
The distribution out of Burmah will, I hope, be found to have been 
satisfactorily done. 
I have introduced, where necessary, a brief discussion on the synonymy 
or the vexed question of whether there is more than one species under the 
head referred to. 
The habits have been dealt with very briefly ; but I believe I have said 
all that is necessary to show the ornithologist where the birds are to be 
met with, and their times and modes of nidification. 
On the whole my aim has been to produce a portable, clearly written 
work, which will enable the naturalist in Burmah to identify the birds he 
meets with, and the naturalist in Europe to form some idea of the state of 
ornithology in a distant British possession in the East. 
