PEEFACE. 
A t the conclnsion of this volume^ the seventh of the series^ it seems good 
to recapitulate and review the advancement that has been made during 
the progress of my work. I take this opportunity as this volume 
completes the description of the non-Passerine birds and these almost exactly 
number half the whole of the Avifauna. 
When I undertook the task no one anticipated such a world confusion 
as later ensued and which has handicapped its preparation in every way. 
While the younger Australians have been engaged in the strenuous work of 
active competition against a war-prepared race and have come out with the 
highest battle honours^ surpassed by none, the older Australian ornithologists 
have been writing that their petty studies should not conform to world views. 
The very active participation of the younger Australian ornithologists on the 
European battlefields suffices to show that it is impossible to withhold from 
conflict when such becomes necessary in war, and it is even so in peaceful 
science. The intervention of the younger Australians, while it has necessarily 
led to the greatest of sacrifices, has developed in the survivors a broader view 
of their scientific necessities. Thus it is that I foresee much vital progress 
in our science in the future when these younger ornithologists once more settle 
down to their peaceful studies. This is certain, as in their warlike pursuits 
they proved themselves endowed with the highest degree of ability, initiative 
and energy. 
My endeavour throughout the present work has been to provide a good 
working basis for my successors, and I have to this end introduced much 
‘^controversial matter,” so that these can form some judgment in the majority 
of cases. This feature has also met with criticism from the older school, but I 
feel will meet with approval later on. It is very difficult to deal with the 
older critics who write carelessly, accusing without attempt to deal with 
facts, and unwittingly these may influence workers who have not access to 
literature. I will quote one recent item only. A writer notes that Gould 
wrote “ North-west Australia ” and suggests that my selection of “ Port 
Essington, Northern Territory ” is carelessly inaccurate. Nevertheless he 
notes that Gould explained this in one instance. Witmer Stone drew up a List 
of the Gouldian species, which I published in the Austral Avian Record, Vol. I., 
Nos. 6 and 7, pp. 129-180, Eeb. 28, 1913, wherein it was showA that the 
birds described from the “ North-west Coast ” were labelled “ Port Essington.” 
The explanation is very simple, as it was not until later that Gould dis- 
criminated between Port Essington and the lower North-west coast, which 
we now regard as North-west Australia, and accurately speaking. Port 
Essington was in North-west Australia. A parallel case is that Gould’s early 
“ New South Wales ” included all the east coast, which is now divided into 
XI. 
