and in tlie publications of learned Societies, for sucli
particulars as are most needed to give the more general
reader a correct idea of the economy and attributes of the
birds which do not permanently frequent any part of the
United Kingdom.
Such a mass of material as has been furnished in the manner
indicated, enables the ornithologist of the present day also
to rectify many statements made by his predecessors. In no
respect, perhaps, is this fact more manifest than in determining
the geographical range of species, whether in the fullest
sense of the word “ British,” or only occasional visitors to our
shores. I t will be remembered that precision on this point
was made by Mr. Y a r r e l l a prominent feature of his work ;
and, when the amount of information at his disposal is taken
into consideration, it must be conceded that he was therein
eminently successful. The excellent example which he himself
set by adding to or correcting statements hearing upon this
important subject, in his successive Editions, will not be
lost upon the new E d it o r , nor will the equally suggestive
alterations in the arrangement of certain species be neglected
by him. When Mr. Y a r r e l l had satisfied himself that his
original allocation of certain forms had been erroneous, he
did not hesitate to correct the mistake—as, for instance, the
Pratincole and the Phalaropes, placed in his First Edition
among the Rails and Coots, but subsequently, with
unquestionable propriety, referred to the Plovers and
Sandpipers. The E d it o r , therefore, will not scruple to
make such systematic changes as may be considered to be
satisfactorily established. He is, however, desirous of stating
that, in cases which may be still regarded as doubtful,
he will, whatever be his own predilections, preserve the
original order of Mr. Y arrf.l l , thinking it a lesser evil to
continue a possibly or even a probably erroneous arrangement,
than to offer a new one which time may show to
be no improvement.
The lax method, adopted by older writers on British
Ornithology, of admitting any chance straggler from distant
lands to a place beside the real inhabitants of this country,
has been in these days very generally condemned, as tending
to confound all correct notions of Geographical Distribution.
The E d it o r , however, does not think himself warranted in
rejecting any of the species falling under this category which
have been recognized by Mr. Y a r r e l l , but the claims for
admission of new ones will be carefully scrutinized. And,
that he may not appear capricious in his choice, the E d ito r
wishes to state, that of the land-birds lately recorded as
having occurred in Britain, it is his intention only to include
those which belong to that great zoo-geograpliical region of
the Old World of which the British Islands form a portion.
The scientific names of the birds used by Mr. Y a r r e l l
will be retained, for the convenience of those who are
accustomed to them, but it is the intention of the E d it o r
also to prefix names in accordance, as far as possible, with
the code of Rules for Zoological Nomenclature adopted by
the British Association for the Advancement of Science—a
code, the chief principles of which were admitted by Mr.
Y a r r e l l himself. I t is hoped that, by following these
rules, a more uniform practice than now exists may be
ultimately reached, and even numerous synonyms which in
the case of many common species at present perplex the
most scientific ornithologists, may eventually disappear.
In conclusion, the E d it o r has to observe, that while on
his part no trustworthy source of information shall be willingly
neglected, he will be glad to receive any communications
likely to be of use in elucidating the “ History
of British Birds.”
L ondon, March, 1871.