Page:Stray feathers. Journal of ornithology for India and its dependencies (IA strayfeathersjou11873hume).pdf/15



the completion of this first bundle of, in other words of Vol. I., the Editor feels bound to acknowledge most gratefully, the cordial support that, during the past year, he has met with from Indian Ornithologists.

When Buffon wrote his Natural History of Birds, he congratulated himself on a knowledge of nearly 900 species, and estimated that the world might contain 1,500 species altogether, a number, so vast, that it seemed impossible to him, that they should ever be properly dealt with in one work.

The Avifauna of India and its Dependencies, already includes nearly 1,600 species, and it has always appeared to me impossible that so vast a fauna should be adequately dealt with, until it possessed a special local organ of its own, in which the observations and discoveries of professed ornithologists, working on the spot amongst the living birds, could be promptly and conveniently recorded, in which only matters bearing on our great work out here should find a place, and which by being, so to say, always at hand, and humble in its scope, should tempt the innumerable "bird-fanciers," who will not call themselves, (though they often truly are) ornithologists, because their acquaintance with scientific nomenclature is small, to put on record some of the multitudinous facts in regard to the distribution and habits of birds that, as travellers and sportsmen, are daily brought to their notice.

It was to supply such a special local organ, that our little Magazine was called into existence, and, so far as professed ornithologists are concerned, it has succeeded beyond the expectations and deserts of its Editor.

But, where the "bird-fanciers" are concerned, it has been, in great measure, a failure. There are hundreds of sportsmen in India, who could tell us facts about the nidification, habits, migrations, distribution, &c., of species of which we know little, and what I would urge upon all my kind coadjutors is, each in his own circle of friends, to endeavour to stir observant Sportsmen up, to add, each, their quota of knowledge to the general stock.

If would-be contributors have doubts as to the names of birds, in regard to which they have observations to record, let them send me skins (the veriest rags, will in most cases suffice) and I will with pleasure identify and return them.

Specially, in the matter of nidification and eggs are we in want of additional information; what is already on record on this subject, so far as I am acquainted with it, and what I have been