The Blackbird. The Redwing. The Mistle Thrush. The Thrush. 
INTRODUCTION. 
T HE Orders of the Class Aves are thirty-four in number, and of these twenty-two are 
represented in the 'British List.’ Such is the term applied to the roll of species which 
have occurred, or which are supposed to have occurred, within the area of the British 
Islands. The birds which ought to be considered as actually British are those which 
nest with us, as the breeding-place is, after all, the real home of a bird ; but there are also the 
regular migrants to be considered, viz. — the species which pass to and fro in spring and 
autumn — and finally, the occasional or accidental visitors. The claims of many of the species 
included under the last two headings are often so slight, that the birds can hardly be considered 
worthy of a place in the 1 British List ’ at all, but in the present work every species has 
been mentioned, so that the evidence ol these stray occurrences may be taken for what it is worth. 
The total number of British Birds is now believed to be 445, divided as follows: — 
SPECIES 
SPECIES 
Passer/formes (Perching Birds) ... 
... 156 Lariformes (Gulls) 
... 32 
Piciformes (Woodpeckers) 
7 Alciformcs (Auks) 
8 
Cuculiformes (Cuckoo-like Birds) 
4 Procellariiformes (Petrels) 
17 
Coraciiform.es (Roller-like Birds) 
14 Colymbiformcs (Divers) ... 
4 
Strigiformes (Owls) 
11 Podicipcdidifonncs { Grebes) 
6 
Accipitriformes (Birds of Prey) ... 
31 Ralliformcs (Rails) 
10 
Pelecaniformes (Pelican-like Birds) 
4 Columbiformes (Pigeons) 
6 
Phmiicopteriformes (Flamingoes) 
1 Pterocletiformes (Sand-Grouse) ... 
1 
Anseriformes (Duck-like Birds)... 
48 Galliformes ( Game-Birds) 
8 
Ardeiformes (Heron-like Birds)... 
14 Turniciformes (Hemipodes) 
1 
Gruiformcs (Cranes) 
2 
— 
Charadriiformes (Plover-like Birds) 
60 
445 
Of these four hundred and forty-five species, there are doubtless several that have no real 
claim to be considered British at all. The evidence of the capture of many of the specimens 
is not convincing, and many species are included in the British Avifauna on untrustworthy 
data. They have been, however, on the British list for so many years that any attempt 
to shake the authenticity of their occurrence by a single author may be resented. It is to be 
hoped that an authoritative list of British Birds may be published by the British Ornithologists’ 
Union or by the B. O. Club. 
