Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A Synopsis of the Accipitres (Diurnal Birds of Prey): Comprising Species and Subspecies Described Up to 1920, With Their Characters and Distribution
IN concluding my work on the Accipitres, a work which I fear has grown far beyond my original intention Of publishing a mere list, I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to the sources from which I have received inspiration and help. In the first place I must acknowledge that as good deal of the systematic part and the generic characters have been borrowed from the late Richard Bowdler Sharpe's Catalogue of the Accipitres in the Collection of the British Museum (1874) of which his annotated copy, laid down on sheets and extended, came into my possession after his death, as also his interleaved copy of the Accipitres portion in Gray's Genera of Birds, upon which he based his 1874 monograph. For permission to make use of the former work I have to thank the Trustees of the British Museum. I have also derived assistance from Mr. W. L. Sclater's work at the British Museum (natural History) in so far as his had preceded mine, and his ms. Catalogue of the skins, which he kindly gave me permission to use. I have also to thank Mr. Bannerman, Mr. Chubb and other assistants at the Museum for help rendered during my studies there. To Lord Rothschild and Dr. Hartert for the use Of the superb collections at Tring I am grateful, and to Dr. Hartert especially for much personal assistance. The Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain and a number Of other friends have also given me help and encouragement in various ways in what, although an arduous and unprofitable undertaking, will I hope be of some permanent help in systematizing this interesting group of birds.
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