PREFACE. 
I am truly and sincerely thankful for the blessing of health which has attended me during the course 
of my twelve years’ labour on the present work ; and it was only while the Introductory matter was going 
through the press that a severe blight fell upon me (the untimely death of my youngest son, Dr. Franklin 
Gould and cast a gloom over my future happiness. I should not have alluded to this painful subject 
here did I not feel it was only doing justice to his memory, as he rendered me great assistance in the 
composition of the following Introduction, which, from his varied acquirements, he was well qualified to 
give. His loss has called forth the sympathy of many kind friends, which has in some measure assuaged 
the sad affliction which has befallen me. If I am spared it is my intention not to be idle ; for although I 
do not entertain the idea of entering upon any new enterprise, I shall still pursue the subject with the same 
energy I have hitherto done, — at one period of the year attending to the Birds of Asia, at another to the 
recent discoveries in the ornithology of Australia, pursuing the subject to New Guinea and the adjacent 
islands, the avifaunas of these latter countries being inseparable. 
It gives me great pleasure to state that my Secretary, Mr. Prince, after twelve months of very severe 
illness, is again able to render me his assistance, that Mr. Wolf affords me the benefit of his talented pencil, 
and that Mr. Richter and Mr. Hart continue their services as heretofore. 
November 1, 1873. 
JOHN GOULD. 
* Dr. F. Gould died of fever on board the Steamship ‘ Debar ’ on the 19tb of March last, during his passage from India to 
Suez, and was buried the same day in the Red Sea. 
