PREFACE. 
The third volume of the Record ^ forms a systematic guide- 
book to about 30,000 pages* of the zoological literature pub- 
lished (with the exception of a comparatively small part) 
within the year 1866. 
Compared with the literature of the preceding years, that of 
1866 is distinguished by the production of a great number of 
important separate works in nearly all classes of the animal 
kingdom, whilst the number of shorter communications, papers, 
and memoirs is considerably below the average of previous 
years. 
The publication of this volume has been somewhat delayed in 
consequence of the illness of one of the Recorders. An under- 
taking of this kind must, of necessity, be occasionally exposed 
to the danger of such a delay without the Editor having it in 
his power to guard against it. 
ALBERT GUNTHER. 
London, November 1867. 
* This number is divided between the various classes thus : — Mammals 
3000, Birds 4600, Reptiles 1000, Fishes 2400, Mollusks and Molhiscoids 2000, 
Crustaceans 000, Arachnids andMyriopods 1000, Insects 11,000 (viz. Coleo- 
ptera 6000, Ilymenoptera 1300, Lepidoptera 2100, Diptera 730, Neuroptera 
and Orthoptera430, Rhynchota 900), Annelids 1000, Scolecides 900, Echino- 
derms 170, Coelenterates 860, Protozoa 900. 
