Vlll 
NOTICE. 
lessly arise at some future period, endowed with the capacity 
requisite for the classification of the immense mass of mate- 
rials we at present possess, and with which future researches 
will make us acquainted ; it is our province to discover and 
distinguish species, and to define, as nearly as may be, the 
minor groups in which they appear to be naturally arranged ; 
it will be his to classify these groups into one comprehensive 
system ; but this cannot be done until more of the recent 
species, and as many of the fossil as possible, have been 
discovered. 
It will be observed, that I have employed subfamily terms 
in some cases and omitted them in others ; they are in fact 
chiefly employed where it appeared to me that they were 
necessary to facilitate a knowledge of the subject ; I do not 
object to the use of such terms generally, but consider it to 
be almost an impossibility to apply them with correctness, 
when merely writing upon the birds of any one country ; thus 
some persons might object to the use of the term Tinamidce 
when treating of the ornithology of a country wherein a 
Tinamou is not to be found ; and other similar instances 
might be cited. 
