P R E F A C E. 
IN the Preface to the First Edition of this Work I remarked that 1 was induced to publish it 
in order to make known several new species of a most remarkable group of birds, and to revise 
and set forth in as clear a light as possible the numerous members of which the family is com¬ 
posed; if these reasons were sufficient to induce me then to attempt their elucidation, the same 
reasons become still more urgent now, when after an interval of twenty years a great amount 
of information respecting the entire group, and a further addition of new species has been 
obtained, rendering a Second Edition a matter of necessity. It appeared to me, as I 
formerly remarked, that the members of the group were naturally divided into several more 
genera than the two— Ramphcistos and Pteroglossus —then recognised; nor did I omit to notice 
a suggestion, that some distinguishing title should be given to these divisions, but I did 
not then feel warranted in following out this idea; the materials since acquired have, however, 
thrown much additional light on the subject, and I now feel myself justified in proposing 
the requisite generic appellations, which with their appropriate characters will be found in 
their proper place in the Introduction. 
In order to render the Work as perfect as possible, I have obtained access to all the 
collections of this country, and have also visited and examined the principal Museums of the 
continent; in several of which I found some species not contained in the others. Thus in 
Vienna I first saw the Pteroglossuspluricinctus ; in Munich Selenidera Reinwardti, S. Langsdorffi 
and Aulacoramphus. Wagleri ; in Paris Pteroglossus Jlavirostris ; while Berlin and Leyden both 
contained other species not previously known to me. In many instances single specimens only 
existed, appertaining moreover to Ramphastidce , in which much dissimilarity occurs in the 
colouring of the sexes, whereby I was prevented from illustrating those species so fully as I 
could have wished. Just as my Monograph was brought to a close, that celebrated traveller 
and naturalist, the late Mr. John Natterer of Vienna, returned to Europe, bringing with him 
females of the species of which I found males only at Munich, together with several other new 
ones acquired during a sojourn of eighteen years in the Brazils; unfortunately, however, he did 
not arrive in London until the last sheets had gone to press, consequently 1 was unable to 
