P R E F A C E .
I n fulfilment of the promise made by the Publishers to the Subscribers, and in accordance
with the intention of the late Mr. G o u l d , the present work has been brought to a close
with the issues of the Twenty-fifth Part. For the last thirteen of these parts, which have
appeared since the author’s death, I have been solely responsible, as will be seen by the
initials appended to the foot of each article; and I greatly regret that the pledges given
to the Subscribers have necessitated the curtailment of the work at a period when the
development of European enterprise in New Guinea and the neighbouring islands seems to
point to the discovery of many new and highly interesting birds. The recent finding of two
beautiful new Birds of Paradise in North-eastern New Guinea must be the forerunner of many
other discoveries, and it is to be hoped that the Subscribers will feel sufficient interest in the
subject to warrant the continuation of the present work, so that the Avifauna of Papuasia may
be completely illustrated. Should such a wish be expressed, I shall he only too happy to
continue the work.
R. BOWDLER SHARPE.
December, 1888.