P R E F A C E .
increased to eleven.” Desirous, .if possible, of extending our knowledge o f an interesting group
o f birds, with which we were so little acquainted, I have from that period until the present
moment been unremitting in my exertions to secure every information attainable respecting
them. In the course o f my researches I have several times visited most o f the public and
many o f the private collections of Europe, and have besides corresponded with various persons
in America: the result is that I have had the pleasure o f extending our knowledge o f the
group from eleven to no less than thirty-five species; doubtless others remain to be
discovered, for it is not to be presumed that the vast forests and tracts o f barren land o f the
great Andean and Cordillerean ranges have as yet been so far explored as to have' revealed to
us every species; but herein I have described or figured all with which I am acquainted.
In the Introduction will be found some additional information obtained since the subsequent
pages were printed, and also descriptions o f three species which I have not thought
it necessary to figure.
I shall at all times be happy to receive further information from any person who may be
favourably situated for observation, and who will kindly favour me with the result o f his
researches.
October 15, 1850.
JOHN GOULD.
I N T R O D U C T I O N .
I t vvill, I am sure, be conceded, that next to illustrating the ornithology of a particular country, monographs
of families or genera are of the greatest interest, since they tend to increase our knowledge of the
science far more than mere descriptions of new species ; with this view, therefore, I have from time to time
turned my attention to the investigation of some one or other of those groups, respecting which much confusion
existed, or which had not received the attention that their interesting nature appeared to demand. In
selecting those of the Ramphastidce and Trogonidce for the subjects of my previous monographs, I must
fairly admit that I was as much influenced by the singularity of their form, and by the splendour of their
plumage, as by the fortunate acquisition of many species entirely unknown to science; the subjects of
the present monograph, on the other hand, though not remarkable for brilliancy of colouring, are,
independently of their claims to notice in a scientific point of view, well worthy of illustration, from
their utility to man, both as articles of food and as objects of .sport, a utility prospectively important
whenever the vast countries of which they are denizens shall become entirely under the dominion of civilization;
nor can we overlook their value as objects for our aviaries, and for naturalization in Europe ; many
of the species would live in the warmer parts of the Continent, and some of them are sufficiently hardy to
brave the severities of bur winters, and would doubtless thrive in situations similar to those that are suitable
to our own Partridge.
To these preliminary remarks I may add, that this section of the Gattinacece has received no inconsiderable
share of my attention for the last twenty years, during which period I have availed myself of
every possible opportunity of becoming acquainted with the subject; and I would here record my sense of
the kind assistance rendered to me on all; hands, particularly by my late lamented friend Mr. John