PREFACE. 
In fulfilment of the promise made by the Publishers to the Subscribers, and in accordance 
with the intention of the late Mr. Gould, the present work has been brought to a close 
with the issue of the Twenty-fifth Part. For the last thirteen of these parts, which have 
appeared since the author’s death, I have been solely responsible, as will be seen by the 
initials appended to the foot of each article ; and I greatly regret that the pledges given 
to the Subscribers have necessitated the curtailment of the work at a period when the 
development of European enterprise in New Guinea and the neighbouring islands seems to 
point to the discovery of many new and highly interesting birds. The recent finding of two 
beautiful new Birds of Paradise in North-eastern New Guinea must he the forerunner of many 
other discoveries, and it is to be hoped that the Subscribers wdl feel sufficient interest in the 
subject to warrant the continuation of the present work, so that the Avifauna of Papuasia may 
be completely illustrated. Should such a wish be expressed, I shall be only too happy to 
continue the work. 
R. BOWDLER SHARPE. 
December, 1888 . 
