180 On new and forthcoming Bird-Books . 
most difficult groups, and to have worked out a large number 
of local collections. 
In further progress towards this end we have now prepared 
and printed, at our own cost, a f Nomenclator Avium Neo- 
tropicalium/ or systematic list of the generic and specific 
names of all the species of Neotropical birds which we actually 
know from personal examination, the habitat or patria being 
in each case added, so as to show their geographical distri¬ 
bution. This will form the base of our future operations, and 
be also useful, we trust, for the establishment of a more uni¬ 
form nomenclature. During Mr. Salvin’s absence in Guate¬ 
mala I have been busily employed getting this work through 
the press, and it is now ready for issue. I find, somewhat to 
my surprise, that it contains the names of not less than 3565 
species, of which about 2000 belong to the great group of 
Passeres, and the remaining 1500 to the other Orders. It 
must be recollected, moreover, that there are, doubtless, many 
good species which we have not met with, and many others 
still remaining to be discovered before the neotropical avi¬ 
fauna can be deemed to be fairly worked out. It is evident, 
therefore, that we have no slight task before us. 
The collections used for the preparation of the ‘ Nomen¬ 
clator 9 were my own and that of Messrs. Salvin and Godman. 
The former of these contains a series of Passeres and other 
higher Orders down to the end of the Psittaci, altogether 
about 7000 specimens. The latter is still larger and more 
general, embracing the whole series of American birds, and 
is particularly complete in Central-American forms, resulting 
from Mr. Salvin's and Mr. Godman's visits to Guatemala and 
from the labours of Arce and other collectors whom they have 
employed. 
During the reexamination of these two collections while 
the c Nomenclator ? was being compiled, thirty-one new species 
were met with, which are described in the Appendix. 
Several energetic collectors are still hard at work in dif¬ 
ferent parts of the Neotropical Region, and furnish us with 
constant additions to our list. Mr. Goering in Venezuela, 
Mr. Salmon in Antioquia, Mr. H. Whitely in Peru, and Mr. 
