PREFACE. 
OE some years past it has been in my mind to publish a set of 
coloured illustrations of the birds of my native country, and 
my residence in England now gives me the opportunity of compass- 
ing my desire. 
Before commencing this weighty task it has occurred to me that 
it would be useful to publisli a “ Handlist of the Birds of Austral- 
asia,” to inv’oke the criticism and co-o]peration of ornithologists, in 
order to enhance the value of my larger undertaking. 
This List is founded upon the ‘‘ Handlist of Birds ” by Dr. 
Bowdler Sharpe, who has promised me his support, and has, as 
will be seen over, encouraged me to commence the task of pub- 
lishing my projjosed work ” The Coloured Figures of the Birds of 
Australasia.” Dr. Sharpe has very kindly lent me the proofs of 
the fifth volume of his ” Handlist ” (now in the press) to enable 
me to make my own ‘‘ Handlist ” more complete. 1 also have 
the support of the Hon. Walter Eothschikl and Dr. Hartert, of the 
Tring Museum, as well as of other eminent ornithologists. 
Within the last few years, however, the principal additions to 
our knowledge of Australian birds have been due to the work of 
Australian naturalists, notably to IMr. A, J. North, of the Aus- 
tralian Museum, Sydney, Messrs. D. Le Souef, A. J. Campbell, 
and Eobert Hall, of Melbourne, and many other naturalists whose 
names arc too numerous to mention here, but to whom I hope to 
do justice in my larger work. 
This “Handlist,” like all compilations of the kind, is sure to con- 
tain imperfections, especially as regards geographical distribution. 
In the course of his w'ork at the Natural History Museum the atten- 
tion of the author has been frecjuently drawn by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe 
to the wnnit of exact definition of the ranges of many of the Austra- 
lian species, and though such wide terms as “ New South Wales,” 
“ Queensland,” &e., are sufficient for a general handlist of birds 
such as that published by the British Alusenra, it is only in the 
fifth volume of that work that the ranges of Australian birds are 
given with any attempt at exact definition, from notes supplied by 
Mr. A. .J. North. The author will, therefore, be grateful to any of 
his brother ornithologists who wfill send him notes on the geo- 
graphical ranges of any species, as well as any observations on 
habits, nesting, food, migration, &c., for all of which he promises 
full acknowledgment in his forthcoming w'ork. 
My intention is to publish a set of hand-coloured plates of the 
birds of Australasia, drawn by Mr. J. Gr. Iveulemans, to which 
work this “ Handlist ” is a preliminary. In preparing the latter 
