The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds Ebook

Table Of Contents:

• AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
• EDITOR'S NOTE.
• Order PASSERES. Family CORVIDAE. Subfamily CORVINAE.
• 1. Corvus corax, Linn. The Raven.
• 3. Corvus corone, Linn. The Carrion-Crow.
• 4. Corvus macrorhynchus, Wagler. The Jungle-Crow.
• 7. Corvus splendens, Vieill. The Indian House-Crow.
• 8. Corvus insolens, Hume. The Burmese House-Crow.
• 9. Corvus monedula, Linn. The Jackdaw.
• 10. Pica rustica (Scop.). The Magpie.
• 12. Urocissa occipitalis (Bl.). The Red-billed Blue Magpie.
• 13. Urocissa flavirostris (Bl.). The Yellow-billed Blue Magpie.
• 14. Cissa chinensis (Bodd.). The Green Magpie.
• 15. Cissa ornata (Wagler). The Ceylonese Magpie.
• 16. Dendrocitta rufa (Scop.). The Indian Tree-pie.
• 17. Dendrocitta leucogastra, Gould. The Southern Tree-pie.
• 18. Dendrocitta himalayensis, Bl. The Himalayan Tree-pie.
• 21. Crypsirhina varians (Lath.). The Black Racket-tailed Magpie.
• 23. Platysmurus leucopterus (Temm.). The White-winged Jay.
• 24. Garrulus lanceolatus, Vigors. The Black-throated Jay.
• 25. Garrulus leucotis, Hume. The Burmese Jay.
• 26. Garrulus bispecularis, Vigors. The Himalayan Jay.
• 27. Nucifraga hemispila, Vigors. The Himalayan Nutcracker.
• 29. Graculus eremita (Linn.). The Red-billed Chough.
• Subfamily PARINAE.
• 31. Parus atriceps, Horsf. The Indian Grey Tit.
• 34. Parus monticola, Vig. The Green-backed Tit.
• 35. Aegithaliscus erythrocephalus (Vig.). Red-headed Tit.
• 41. Machlolophus spilonotus (Bl.). The Blade-spotted Yellow Tit.
• 42. Machlolophus xanthogenys (Vig.). The Yellow-cheeked Tit.
• 43. Machlolophus haplonotus (Bl.). The Southern Yellow Tit.
• 44. Lophophanes melanolophus (Vig.). The Crested Black Tit.
• 47. Lophophanes rufinuchalis (Bl.). The Simla Black Tit.
• Subfamily PARADOXORNITHINAE.
• 50. Conostoma aemodium, Hodgs. The Red-billed Crow-Tit.
• 60. Scaeorhynchus ruficeps (Bl.). The Larger Red-headed Crow-Tit.
• 61. Scaeorhynchus gularis (Horsf.). The Hoary-headed Crow-Tit.
• Family CRATEROPODIDAE. Subfamily CRATEROPODINAE.
• 62. Dryonastes ruficollis (J. &S.) The Rufous-necked Laughing-Thrush.
• 65. Dryonastes caerulatus (Hodgs.). The Grey-sided Laughing-Thrush.
• 69. Garrulax leucolophus (Hardw.). The Himalayan White-crested Laughing-Thrush.
• 70. Garrulax belangeri, Less. The Burmese White-crested Laughing-Thrush.
• 72. Garrulax pectoralis (Gould). The Black-gorgeted Laughing-Thrush.
• 76. Garrulax albigularis (Gould). The White-throated Laughing-Thrush.
• 78. Ianthocincla ocellata (Vig.). The White-spotted Laughing-Thrush.
• 80. Ianthocincla rufigularis, Gould. The Rufous-chinned Laughing-Thrush.
• 82. Trochalopterum erythrocephalum (Vig.). The Red-headed Laughing-Thrush.
• 85. Trochalopterum nigrimentum, Hodgs. The Western Yellow-winged Laughing-Thrush.
• 87. Trochalopterum phoeniceum (Gould). The Crimson-winged Laughing-Thrush.
• 88. Trochalopterum subunicolor, Hodgs. The Plain-coloured Laughing-Thrush.
• 90. Trochalopterum variegatum (Vig.). The Eastern Variegated Laughing-Thrush.
• 91. Trochalopterum simile, Hume. The Western Variegated Laughing-Thrush.
• 92. Trochalopterum squamatum (Gould). The Blue-winged Laughing-Thrush.
• 93. Trochalopterum cachinnans (Jerd.). The Nilghiri Laughing-Thrush.
• 96. Trochalopterum fairbanki, Blanf. The Palni Laughing-Thrush.
• 99. Trochalopterum lineatum (Vig.). The Himalayan Streaked Laughing-Thrush.
• 101. Grammatoptila striata (Vig.). The Striated Laughing-Thrush.
• 104. Argya earlii (Blyth). The Striated Babbler.
• 105. Argya caudata (Dumeril). The Common Babbler.
• 107. Argya malcolmi (Sykes). The Large Grey Babbler.
• 108. Argya subrufa (Jerd.)[A]. The Large Rufous Babbler.
• 110. Crateropus canorus (Linn.)[A]. The Jungle Babbler.
• C. malabaricus.
• 111. Crateropus griseus (Gm.). The White-headed Babbler.
• 112. Crateropus striatus (Sw.). The Southern-Indian Babbler.
• 113. Crateropus somervillii (Sykes). The Rufous-tailed Babbler.
• 114. Crateropus rufescens (Blyth). The Ceylonese Babbler.
• 115. Crateropus cinereifrons (Blyth). The Ashy-headed Babbler.
• 116. Pomatorhinus schisticeps, Hodgs. The Slaty-headed Scimitar Babbler.
• 118. Pomatorhinus olivaceus, Blyth. The Tenasserim Scimitar Babbler.
• 119. Pomatorhinus melanurus, Blyth. The Ceylonese Scimitar Babbler.
• 120. Pomatorhinus horsfieldii, Sykes. The Southern Scimitar Babbler.
• 122. Pomatorhinus ferruginosus, Blyth. The Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler.
• 125. Pomatorhinus ruficollis, Hodgs. The Rufous-necked Scimitar Babbler.
• 129. Pomatorhinus erythrogenys, Vigors. The Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler.
• 133. Xiphorhamphus superciliaris (Blyth). The Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler.
• Subfamily TIMELIINAE.
• 134. Timelia pileata, Horsf. The Red-capped Babbler.
• 135. Dumetia hyperythra (Frankl.). The Rufous-bellied Babbler.
• 136. Dumetia albigularis (Blyth). The Small White-throated Babbler.
• 139. Pyctorhis sinensis (Gm.). The Yellow-eyed Babbler.
• 140. Pyctorhis nasalis, Legge. The Ceylon Yellow-eyed Babbler.
• 142. Pellorneum mandellii, Blanf. Mandelli's Spotted Babbler.
• 144. Pellorneum ruficeps, Swains., The Spotted Babbler.
• 145. Pellorneum subochraceum, Swinh. The Burmese Spotted Babbler.
• 147. Pellorneum fuscicapillum (Bl.). The Brown-capped Babbler.
• 149. Drymocataphus nigricapitatus (Eyton). The Black-capped Babbler.
• 151. Drymocataphus tickelli. Tickell's Babbler.
• 160. Turdinus abbotti (Bl.). Abbott's Babbler.
• 163. Alcippe nepalensis (Hodgs.). The Nepal Babbler.
• 164. Alcippe phaeocephala (Jerd.). The Nilghiri Babbler.
• 165. Alcippe phayrii, Bl. The Burmese Babbler.
• 166. Rhopocichla atriceps (Jerd.) The Black-headed Babbler.
• 167. Rhopocichla nigrifrons (Bl.). The Black-fronted Babbler.
• 169. Stachyrhis nigriceps, Hodgs. The Black-throated Babbler.
• 170. Stachyrhis chrysaea, Hodgs. The Golden-headed Babbler.
• 172. Stachyrhidopsis ruficeps, Bl. The Red-headed Babbler.
• 174. Stachyrhidopsis pyrrhops, Hodgs. The Red-billed Babbler.
• 175. Cyanoderma erythropterum (Blyth). The Red-winged Babbler.
• 176. Mixornis rubricapillus (Tick.). The Yellow-breasted Babbler.
• 177. Mixornis gularis (Raffl.). The Sumatran Yellow-breasted Babbler.
• 178. Schoeniparus dubius (Hume). Hume's Tit-Babbler.
• 182. Sittiparus castaneiceps (Hodgs.). The Chestnut-headed Tit-Babbler.
• 183. Proparus vinipectus (Hodgs.). The Plain-brown Tit-Babbler.
• 184. Lioparus chrysaeus (Hodgs.). The Golden-breasted Tit-Babbler.
• Subfamily BRACHYPTERYGINAE.
• 187. Myiophoneus temmincki, Vigors. The Himalayan Whistling Thrush.
• 188. Myiophoneus eugenii, Hume. The Burmese Whistling-Thrush.
• 189. Myiophoneus horsfieldi. Vigors. The Malabar Whistling-Thrush.
• 191. Larvivora brunnea, Hodgs. The Indian Blue Chat.
• 193. Brachypteryx albiventris (Fairbank). The White-bellied Short-wing.
• 194. Brachypteryx rufiventris (Blyth). The Rufous-bellied Short-wing.
• 197. Drymochares cruralis (Blyth). The White-browed Short-wing
• 198. Drymochares nepalensis (Hodgs.). The Nepal Short-wing.
• 200. Elaphrornis palliseri (Blyth). The Ceylon Short-wing.
• 201. Tesia cyaniventris, Hodgs. The Slaty-bellied Short-wing.
• 202. Oligura castaneicoronata (Burt.). The Chestnut-headed Short-wing.
• Subfamily SIBIINAE.
• 203. Sibia picaoides, Hodgs. The Long-tailed Sibia.
• 204. Lioptila capistrata (Vigors). The Black-headed Sibia.
• 205. Lioptila gracilis (McClell.). The Grey Sibia.
• 206. Lioptila melanoleuca (Bl.). Tickell's Sibia.
• 211. Actinodura egertoni, Gould. The Rufous Bar-wing.
• 213. Ixops nepalensis (Hodgs.). The Hoary Bar-wing.
• 219. Siva strigula, Hodgs. The Stripe-throated Siva.
• 221. Siva cyanuroptera, Hodgs. The Blue-winged Siva.
• 223. Yuhina gularis, Hodgs. The Stripe-throated Yuhina.
• 225. Yuhina nigrimentum (Hodgs.). The Black-chinned Yuhina.
• 226. Zosterops palpebrosa (Temm.). The Indian White-eye.
• 229. Zosterops ceylonensis, Holdsworth. The Ceylon White-eye.
• 231. Ixulus occipitalis (Bl.) The Chestnut-headed Ixulus.
• 232. Ixulus flavicollis (Hodgs.). The Yellow-naped Ixulus.
• Subfamily LIOTRICHINAE.
• 235. Liothrix lutea (Scop.). The Red-billed Liothrix.
• 237. Pteruthius erythropterus (Vig.). The Red-winged Shrike-Tit.
• 239. Pteruthius melanotis, Hodgs. The Chestnut-throated Shrike-Tit.
• 243. Aegithine tiphia (Linn.). The Common Iora.
• 246. Myzornis pyrrhura, Hodgs. The Fire-tailed Myzornis.
• 252. Chloropsis jerdoni (Bl.). Jerdon's Chloropsis.
• 254. Irena puella (Lath.). The Fairy Blue-bird.
• 257. Mesia argentauris, Hodgs. The Silver-eared Mesia.
• 258. Minla igneitincta, Hodgs. The Red-tailed Minla.
• 260. Cephalopyrus flammiceps (Burton). The Fire-cap.
• 261. Psaroglossa spiloptera (Vigors). The Spotted-wing.
• Subfamily BRACHYPODINAE.
• 263. Criniger flaveolus (Gould). The White-throated Bulbul.
• 269. Hypsipetes psaroides, Vigors. The Himalayan Black Bulbul.
• 271. Hypsipetes ganeesa, Sykes. The Southern-Indian Black Bulbul.
• 275. Hemixus macclellandi (Horsf.). The Rufous-bellied Bulbul.
• 277. Alcurus striatus (Bl.). The Striated Green Bulbul.
• 278. Molpastes haemorrhous (Gm.). The Madras Red-vented Bulbul.
• 279. Molpastes burmanicus (Sharpe). The Burmese Red-vented Bulbul.
• 281. Molpastes atricapillus (Vieill.). The Chinese Red-vented Bulbul.
• 282. Molpastes bengalensis (Blyth). The Bengal Red-vented Bulbul.
• 283. Molpastes intermedius (A. Hay). The Punjab Red-vented Bulbul.
• 284. Molpastes leucogenys (Gr.). The White-cheeked Bulbul.
• 285. Molpastes leucotis (Gould). The White-eared Bulbul.
• 288. Otocompsa emeria(Linn.). The Bengal Red-whiskered Bulbul.
• 289. Otocompsa fuscicaudata, Gould. The Southern Red-whiskered Bulbul.
• 290. Otocompsa flaviventris (Tick.). The Black-crested Yellow Bulbul.
• 292. Spizixus canifrons, Blyth. The Finch-billed Bulbul.
• 295. Iole icterica (Strickl.). The Yellow-browed Bulbul.
• 299. Pycnonotus finlaysoni, Strickl. Finlayson's Stripe-throated Bulbul.
• 300. Pycnonotus davisoni (Hume). Davison's Stripe-throated Bulbul.
• 301. Pycnonotus melanicterus (Gm.)._The Black-capped Bulbul.
• 305. Pycnonotus luteolus (Less.). The White-browed Bulbul.
• 300. Pycnonotus blanfordi (Jerd.). Blanford's Bulbul.
• Family SITTIDAE.
• 315. Sitta himalayensis, Jard. &Selby. The White-tailed Nuthatch.
• 316. Sitta cinnamomeiventris, Blyth. The Cinnamon-bellied Nuthatch.
• 317. Sitta neglecta, Walden. The Burmese Nuthatch.
• 321. Sitta castaneiventris, Frankl. The Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch.
• 323. Sitta leucopsis, Gould. The White-cheeked Nuthatch.
• 323. Sitta frontalis,, Horsf. The Velvet-fronted Blue Nuthatch.
• Family DICRURIDAE.
• 327. Dicrurus ater (Hermann). The Black Drongo.
• 328. Dicrurus longicaudatus. A. Hay. The Indian Ashy Drongo.
• 329. Dicrurus nigrescens, Oates. The Tenasserim Ashy Drongo.
• 330. Dicrurus caerulescens (Linn.). The White-bellied Drongo.
• 331. Dicrurus leucopygialis, Blyth. The White-vented Drongo.
• 334. Chaptia aenea (Vieill.). The Bronzed Drongo.
• 335. Chibia hottentotta (Linn.). The Hair-crested Drongo.
• 338. Dissemurulus lophorhinus (Vieill.). The Ceylon Black Drongo.
• 339. Bhringa remifer (Temm.). The Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo.
• 340. Dissemurus paradiseus (Linn.). The Larger Racket-tailed Drongo.
• Family CERTHIIDAE.
• 341. Certhia himalayana, Vigors. The Himalayan Tree-Creeper.
• 342. Certhia hodgsoni, Brooks. Hodgson's Tree-Creeper.
• 347. Salpornis spilonota (Frankl.). The Spotted-Grey Creeper.
• 352. Anorthura neglecta (Brooks). The Cashmir Wren.
• 355. Urocichla caudata (Blyth). The Tailed Wren.
• 356. Pnoepyga albiventris (Hodgs.). The Scaly-breasted Wren.
• Family REGULIDAE.
• 358. Regulus cristatus, Koch. The Golderest.
• Family SYLVIIDAE.
• 363. Acrocephalus stentoreus (H. &E.). The Indian Great Reed-Warbler.
• 366. Acrocephalus dumetorum, Blyth. Blyth's Reed-Warbler.
• 367. Acrocephalus agricola (Jerd.). The Paddy-field Reed-Warbler.
• 371. Tribura thoracica (Blyth). The Spotted Bush-Warbler.
• 372. Tribura luteiventris, Hodgs. The Brown Bush-Warbler.
• 374. Orthotomus sutorius (Forst.). The Indian Tailor-bird.
• 375. Orthotomus atrigularis, Temm. The Black-necked Tailor-bird.
• 380. Cisticola volitans, Swinh. The Golden-headed Fantail-Warbler.
• 381. Cisticola cursitans (Frankl). The Rufous Fantail-Warbler.
• 382. Franklinia gracilis (Frankl.). Franklin's Wren-Warbler.
• 383. Franklinia rufescens (Blyth). Beavan's Wren-Warbler.
• 384. Franklinia buchanani (Blyth). The Rufous-fronted Wren-Warbler.
• 385. Franklinia cinereicapilla (Hodgs.). Hodgson's Wren-Warbler.
• 386. Laticilla burnesi (Bl.). The Long-tailed Grass-Warbler. Eurycercus burnesii, Bl., Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 74.
• 388. Graminicola bengalensis, Jerd. The Large Grass-Warbler.
• 389. Megalurus palustris, Horsf. The Striated Marsh-Warbler.
• 390. Schoenicola platyura (Jerd.). The Broad-tailed Grass-Warbler.
• 391. Acanthoptila nepalensis (Hodgs.). The Spiny Warbler.
• 392. Chaetornis locustelloides (Bl.). The Bristled Grass-Warbler.
• 394. Hypolais rama (Sykes). Sykes's Tree-Warbler.
• 402. Sylvia affinis (Blyth). The Indian Lesser White-throated Warbler.
• 406. Phylloscopus tytleri, Brooks. Tytler's Willow-Warbler.
• 410. Phylloscopus fuscatus (Blyth). The Dusky Willow-Warbler.
• 415. Phylloscopus proregulus (Pall.). Pallas's Willow-Warbler.
• 416. Phylloscopus subviridis (Brooks). Brooks's Willow-Warbler.
• 418. Phylloscopus humii (Brooks). Hume's Willow-Warbler.
• 428. Acanthopneuste occipitalis, Jerd. The Large Crowned Willow-Warbler.
• 430. Acanthopneuste davisoni, Oates. The Tenasserim White-tailed Willow-Warbler.
• 434. Cryptolopha xanthoschista (Hodgs.) Holgson's Grey-headed Flycatcher-Warbler.
• 435. Cryptolopha jerdoni (Brooks). Brooks's Grey-headed Flycatcher-Warbler.
• 436. Cryptolopha poliogenys (Blyth). The Grey-cheeked Flycatcher-Warbler.
• 437. Cryptolopha castaneiceps (Hodgs.). The Chestnut-headed Flycatcher-Warbler.
• 438. Cryptolopha cantator (Tick.). Tickell's Flycatcher-Warbler.
• 440. Abrornis superciliaris, Tick. The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher-Warbler.
• 441. Abrornis schisticeps (Hodgs.). The Black-faced Flycatcher-Warbler.
• 442. Abrornis albigularis, Hodgs. The White-throated Flycatcher-Warbler.
• 445. Scotocerca inquieta (Cretzschm.). The Streaked Scrub-Warbler.
• 446. Neomis flavolivaceus, Hodgs.[A] The Aberrant Warbler.
• No. 552 bis.-NEORNIS ASSIMILIS, Hodgs.
• 448. Horornis fortipes, Hodgs. The Strong-footed Bush-Warbler.
• 450. Horornis pallidus(Brooks). The Pale Bush-Warbler.
• 451. Horornis pallidipes (Blanf.). Blanfords Bush-Warbler.
• 452. Horornis major (Hodgs.). The Large Bush-Warbler.
• 454. Phyllergates coronatus (Jerd. &Bl.). The Golden-headed Warbler.
• 455. Horeites brunneifrons, Hodgs. The Rufous-capped Bush-Warbler.
• 458. Suya crinigera, Hodgs. The Brown Hill-Warbler.
• 459. Suya atrigularis, Moore[A]. The Black-throated Hill-Warbler.
• 460. Suya khasiana, Godw.-Aust. Austen's Hill-Warbler.
• 462. Prinia lepida, Blyth. The Streaked Wren-Warbler
• 463. Prinia flaviventris (Deless.). The Yellow-bellied Wren-Warbler.
• 464. Prinia socialis, Sykes. The Ashy Wren-Warbler.
• 465. Prinia sylvatica, Jerd. The Jungle Wren-Warbler.
• 466. Prinia inornata, Sykes. The Indian Wren-Warbler.
• 467. Prinia jerdoni (Blyth). The Southern Wren-Warbler.
• 468. Prinia blanfordi (Walden). The Burmese Wren-Warbler.
• Family LANIIDAE
• Subfamily LANIINAE.
• 469. Lanius lahtora(Sykes). The Indian Grey Shrike.
• 473. Lanius vittatus. The Bay-backed Shrike.
• 475. Lanius nigriceps (Franklin). The Black-headed Shrike.
• 476. Lanius erythronotus (Vigors). The Rufous-backed Shrike.
• 477. Lanius tephronotus (Vigors). The Grey-backed Shrike.
• 481. Lanius cristatus, Linn. The Brown Shrike.
• 484. Hemipus picatus (Sykes). The Black-backed Pied Shrike.
• 485. Hemipus capitalis (McClelland). The Brown-backed Pied Shrike.
• 486. Tephrodornis pelvicus (Hodgs.). The Nepal Wood-Shrike.
• 487. Tephrodornis sylvicola, Jerdon. The Malabar Wood-Shrike.
• 488. Tephrodornis pondicerianus (Gm.). The Common Wood-Shrike.
• 490. Pericrocotus speciosus (Lath.). The Indian Scarlet Minivet.
• 494. Pericrocotus flammeus (Forst.). The Orange Minivet.
• 495. Pericrocotus brevirostris (Vigors). The Short-billed Minivet.
• 499. Pericrocotus roseus (Vieill.). The Rosy Minivet.
• 500. Pericrocotus peregrinus (Linn.). The Small Minivet.
• 501. Pericrocotus erythropygius (Jerd.). The White-bellied Minivet.
• 505. Campophaga melanoschista (Hodgs.). The Dark-grey Cuckoo-Shrike.
• 508. Campophaga sykesi (Strickl.). The Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike.
• 509. Campophaga terat (Bodd.)[A]. The Pied Cuckoo-Shrike.
• 510. Graucalus macii, Lesson. The Large Cuckoo-Shrike.
• Subfamily ARTAMINAE.
• 512. Artamus fuscus, Vieill. The Ashy Swallow-Shrike.
• 513. Artamus leucogaster (Valenc.). The White-rumped Swallow-Shrike.
• Family ORIOLIDAE.
• 518. Oriolus kundoo, Sykes. The Indian Oriole.
• 521. Oriolus melanocephalus(Linn.). The Indian Black-headed Oriole.
• 522. Oriolus traillii (Vigors). The Maroon Oriole.
• Family EULABETIDAE
• 523. Eulabes religiosa (Linn.). Jerd. B. Southern Grackle.
• 524. Eulabes intermedia[A] (A. Hay). The Indian Grackle.
• 526. Eulabes ptilogenys (Blyth). The Ceylon Grackle.
• 527. Calornis chalybeius (Horsf.). The Glossy Calornis.
• Family STURNIDAE.
• 528. Pastor roseus (Linn.). The Rose-coloured Starling.
• 529. Sturnus humii, Brooks. The Himalayan Starling.
• 531. Sturnus minor, Hume. The Small Indian Starling.
• 537. Sturnia blythii (Jerdon). Blyth's Myna.
• 538. Sturnia malabarica (Gm.). The Grey-headed Myna.
• 539. Sturnia nemoricola, Jerdon. The White-winged Myna.
• 543. Ampeliceps coronatus, Blyth. The Gold-crest Myna.
• 544. Temenuchus pagodarum (Gm.). The Black-headed Myna.
• 546. Graculipica nigricollis (Payk.). The Black-necked Myna.
• 549. Acridotheres tristis (Linn.). The Common Myna.
• 550. Acridotheres melanosternus, Legge. The Common Ceylon Myna.
• 551. Acridotheres ginginianus (Lath.). The Bank Myna.
• 552. Aethiopsar fuscus (Wagl.). The Jungle Myna.
• 555. Sturnopastor contra (Linn.). The Pied Myna.
• 556. Sturnopastor superciliaris, Blyth. The Burmese Pied Myna.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

I have long regretted my inability to issue a revised edition of 'Nests and Eggs.' For many years after the first Rough Draft appeared, I went on laboriously accumulating materials for a re-issue, but subsequently circumstances prevented my undertaking the work. Now, fortunately, my friend Mr. Eugene Gates has taken the matter up, and much as I may personally regret having to hand over to another a task, the performance of which I should so much have enjoyed, it is some consolation to feel that the readers, at any rate, of this work will have no cause for regret, but rather of rejoicing that the work has passed into younger and stronger hands.

One thing seems necessary to explain. The present Edition does not include quite all the materials I had accumulated for this work. Many years ago, during my absence from Simla, a servant broke into my museum and stole thence several cwts. of manuscript, which he sold as waste paper. This manuscript included more or less complete life-histories of some 700 species of birds, and also a certain number of detailed accounts of nidification. All small notes on slips of paper were left, but almost every article written on full-sized foolscap sheets was abstracted. It was not for many months that the theft was discovered, and then very little of the MSS. could be recovered.

It thus happens that in the cases of some of the most interesting species, of which I had worked up all the notes into a connected whole, nothing, or, as in the case of Argya subrufa, only a single isolated note, appears in the text. It is to be greatly regretted, for my work was imperfect enough as it was; and this 'Selection from the Records,' that my Philistine servant saw fit to permit himself, has rendered it a great deal more imperfect still; but neither Mr. Oates nor myself can be justly blamed for this.

In conclusion, I have only to say that if this compilation should find favour in any man's sight he must thank Mr. Oates for it, since not only has he undergone the labour of arranging my materials and seeing the whole work through the press-not only has he, I believe, added himself considerably to those materials-but it is solely owing to him that the work appears at all, as I know no one else to whom I could have entrusted the arduous and, I fear, thankless duty that he has so generously undertaken.