IV PREFACE
The value of a work of this kind, as a convenient index to the
genera and species of the group which forms its subject-matter,
is increased by anything which adds to the facility with which
it can be consulted. I t has accordingly been thought advisable
to issue a general index to the whole series; and an additional
motive for doing so is indicated in the Editor’s Preface.
The several volumes of the ‘ Hand-list ’ appeared in the years
indicated below:—
Vol. I. in 1899.
„ II. „ 1900.
„ I I I . „ 1901.
„ IV. „ 1903.
„■ V. j, 1909.
The sequence of the orders and families and the number of
genera and species included are given in detail in Dr. Sharpe’s
Introduction published in Vol. V.
A work which appears under these conditions can never be
complete; since new genera and species continue to be described
during its progress. Advantage has, however, been taken of the
present opportunity to correct certain inaccuracies and omissions
in the indexes of the volumes as issued; This task, which has
proved far more laborious than would appear on the surface,
has been supervised by Mr. W. R. Ogilvie^Grant.
SIDNEY E. HARMER,
British Museum (Natural History), Keeper o f Zoology.
London, March 1912,
EDITOE’S PEEFACE.
T his General Index to the ‘ Hand-list of the Genera and Species
of Birds’ has been prepared to supply a much-felt want.
The number of bird-skins in the British Museum (Natural
History) is now so vast that it has been found necessary to
prepare a special catalogue indicating the position of each species
in the collection. The pages of the ‘ Hand-list’ have therefore
been laid down in three large volumes on paper with specially
printed headings. Opposite each name and arranged in parallel
columns is the number of the cabinet and the number of the drawer
in which the species is placed, also a reference to the volume and
page in the ‘ Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum.’
A general index to these special volumes was required and
for this purpose my Chief Attendant, Mr, Thomas Wells, in
the first instance, undertook the laborious task of amalgamating
the indexes to the five volumes of the • Hand-list.’
As it was found that there were a good many errors and
omissions in the original work, and as a General Index was much
wanted, the Trustees decided to publish the present volume as a
Supplement to the ‘ Hand-list.’ The references have all been carefully
checked and it is to be hoped that most of the old mistakes
have been corrected and that fresh ones have been avoided.
A limited number of copies have been struck off on large paper,
printed on one side only, to provide for manuscript intercalations,
and will be used as an Index to the Special Catalogue of the
species of birds in the collection.
11th March, 1912.
W. E. OGILVIEkGRA&T.