PREFACE. 
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Neaely ten years ago, before the issue of my ‘ Monograph of the Meropidse,’ 1 commenced the present 
companion work, and in 1885 all the plates of the then known species had been drawn on stone. 
Lack of information and various other causes had, however, delayed its publication until 1890, when 
all was ready for placing in the printers’ hands. I was then, however, informed that my friend and 
late colleague Dr. Sharpe had nearly completed his portion of the British Museum Catalogue which 
contains the Coraciidse, and deeming it advisable to defer the issue of my volume until Dr. Sharpe’s 
had appeared, in order that I might check and verify my work by comparison with his, I put my MS. 
aside. 
As will be seen, he and 1 agree closely in all but minor details—the chief differences being that 1 
have not found it advisable to separate the Boilers into two families, but have reduced Leptosomus 
to a subfamily of the Coraciidse; and, moreover, 1 have not recognized Dr. Sharpe’s genus Geohiastes, 
as I cannot, after a most careful comparison, detect any valid generic character by which it can be 
separated from Brachypteracias. 
During the progress of the present work I have, as heretofore, been greatly indebted to many 
fellow naturalists both at home and abroad for much valuable assistance. To Professor A. Newton I 
am especially indebted for having looked over my proofs, and for having given me his opinion on 
various moot points, as also for having lent me specimens from the Cambridge Museum ; 
Major B. G. Wardlaw Bamsay placed at my disposal the entire series of Boilers belonging to 
the Tweeddale collection before depositing them in the British Museum; Canon Tristram and 
Mr. Henry Seebohm lent me for examination the Boilers in their collections; Mr. Trimen obtained 
permission from the Trustees of the South-African Museum, Capetown, and forwarded to me the type 
of Coracias spatulatus, which I have figured ; Professor Barboza du Bocage and Dr. Anton Beichenow 
have on several occasions assisted me with information respecting the specimens in the Lisbon and 
Berlin Museums; and the Hon. Walter Bothschild has at all times lent me specimens from the 
valuable collection at Tring. Besides which the large series of Boilers in the British Museum has 
always been available for examination. To all the above gentlemen as well as to others who have 
aided me, whose names will be found in the body of the work, I take this opportunity of tendering 
my sincere thanks. 
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