JOHN GOULD, F.R.S., &c., &c.

BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

1873.

[Price Five Shillings and Sixpence.]

[The Author reserves to himself the right of Translation.]

ΤΟ

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ROWLAND, VISCOUNT HILL,

OF HAWKSTONE,

LORD LIEUTENANT AND CUSTOS ROTULORUM, COUNTY OF SALOP,

THIS WORK

ON

THE BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN

Is Dedicated,

BY THE AUTHOR,

IN

TESTIMONY OF HIS SINCERE RESPECT AND REGARD

AND IN

COMMEMORATION OF

AN UNINTERRUPTED FRIENDSHIP OF MORE THAN

FORTY YEARS.

TO THE READER.

In pursuance of the course adopted when preparing the introductory matter of my works on the Birds of Australia,' the 'Mammals' of the same country, and the Monograph of the Trochilidæ,' I have had the Introduction to the Birds of Great Britain' set up in small type for the convenience of correction before printing it for the folio work; by this means I have been enabled to review the entire subject, to draw up a complete list of the species I have thought it advisable to include in the British avifauna, and to make those corrections and additions which have become necessary while the work was in progress.

It should be borne in mind that this 'Introduction' is not intended in any way in substitution for the letterpress already published in the folio work, but rather in augmentation of what is there stated and as a general summary. Those who do not already possess the folio edition will not be able to dispense with it on the acquisition of the present volume, while, it is hoped, it will be found a useful supplement and index.