Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum

The Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum is a monumental work published in 27 volumes between 1874 to 1898. Its aim was not only to document the British Museum of Natural History's bird collection, but to discuss all then-known "species" of living birds. However, it was also one of the last – perhaps the last major – bird species lists published before the adoption of trinomial nomenclature. This means that in this work subspecies are still either treated as distinct "species", or are considered "varieties" denoted with small Greek letters (α, β, γ...). This implies that in cases where no additional subspecies have been described later, the "species" as listed here is actually the nominate subspecies.

Volume 1: Accipitres, or diurnal birds of prey (1874) edit

Richard Bowdler Sharpe / John Gerrard Keulemans

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Gyps kolbi"
Plate II
"Œnops falklandica, Œnops urubitinga"
Plate III
"Astur macroscelides"
Plate IV
"Astur soloensis, Astur cuculoides"
Plate V
"Astur wallacii"
Plate VI
"Astur toussenelii, Accipiter hartlaubi"
Plate VII
"Buteo plumipes, Archibuteo strophiatus"
Plate VIII
"Buteo ferox"
Plate IX
"Spilornis pallidus"
Plate X
"Baza magnirostris, Baza erythrothorax"
Plate XI
"Baza sumatrensis, Baza cuculoides"
Plate XII
"Falco minor"
Plate XIII
"Hierofalco holbœlli"
Plate XIV
"Cerchneis alopex, Cerchneis zoniventris"

Volume 2: Striges, or nocturnal birds of prey (1875) edit

Richard Bowdler Sharpe / John Gerrard Keulemans

At the Internet Archive

Commons category

Plate I
"Scotopelia bouvieri"
Plate II
"Bubo shelleyi"
Plate III
"Scops capensis, Scops stictonotus"
Plate IV
"Scops malayanus, Scops gymnopodus"
Plate V
"Scops magicus"
Plate VI
"Scops leucospilus"
Plate VII
"Scops morotensis, Scops bouruensis"
Plate VIII
"Scops albiventris, Scops menadensis"
Plate IX
"Scops guatemalæ"
Plate X
"Ninox hypogramma"
Plate XI
"Ninox hantu, Ninox ochracea"
Plate XII
"Ninox fusca, Ninox squamipila"
Plate XIII
"Glaucidium cobanense, Glaucidium tephronotum"
Plate XIV
"Strix flammea"

Volume 3: Passeriformes Coliomorphæ (1877) edit

Richard Bowdler Sharpe / John Gerrard Keulemans

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Physocorax moneduloides"
Plate II
"Strepera crissalis"
Plate III
"Dendrocitta occipitalis"
Plate IV
"Garrulus leucotis"
Plate V
"Perisoreus capitalis, Perisoreus obscurus"
Plate VI
"Xanthura melanocyanea"
Plate VII
"Xanthura turcosa"
Plate VIII
"Xanthura quindiuna"
Plate IX
"Psilorhinus cyanogenys"
Plate X
"Oriolus steerii"
Plate XI
"Oriolus viridifuscus"
Plate XII
"Sphecotheres salvadorii"
Plate XIII
"Chætorhynchus papuensis"
Plate XIV
"Bradyornis woodwardi"

Volume 4: Passeriformes Cichlomorphæ Part I - Campophagidæ and Muscicapidæ (1879) edit

Richard Bowdler Sharpe / John Gerrard Keulemans

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Edoliisoma timoriense, Edoliisoma marginatum"
Plate II
"Campophaga polioptera"
Plate III
"Artomyias fuliginosa, Artomyias ussheri"
Plate IV
"Erythromyias dumetoria, Erythromyias muelleri"
Plate V
"Gerygone inornata, Gerygone flaveola"
Plate VI
"Pseudogerygone palpebrosa"
Plate VII
"Pœcilodryas albinotata"
Plate VIII
"Pœcilodryas papuana, Pœcilodryas leucops"
Plate IX
"Erythrocercus maccalli, Erythrocercus livingstonii"
Plate X
"Rhipidura erythronota, Rhipidura rufilateralis"
Plate XI
"Myiagra rufiventris, Monarcha castaneiventris"
Plate XII
"Culicipeta ruficapilla, Culicipeta umbrovirens"
Plate XIII
"Digenea leucomelanura"
Plate XIV
"Digenea moniliger, Digenea solitaria"

Volume 5: Passeriformes Cichlomorphæ Part II - Turdidæ, or warblers and thrushes (1881) edit

Richard Bowdler Sharpe / John Gerrard Keulemans

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Sylvia minuscula"
Plate II
"Sylvia blanfordi"
Plate III
"Sylvia deserticola"
Plate IV
"Phylloscopus humii, Phylloscopus subviridis"
Plate V
"Locustella fasciolata"
Plate VI
"Lusciniola thoracica"
Plate VII
"Cettia major"
Plate VIII
"Cettia brunneifrons"
Plate IX
"Geocichla papuensis"
Plate X
"Geocichla horsfieldi"
Plate XI
"Geocichla piaggii"
Plate XII
"Geocichla princei"
Plate XIII
"Turdus falklandicus"
Plate XIV
"Turdus magellanicus"
Plate XV
"Merula bourdilloni"
Plate XVI
"Merula ulietensis"
Plate XVII
"Erythacus sibilans"
Plate XVIII
"Saxicola layardi"

Volume 6: Passeriformes Cichlomorphæ Part III - Timeliidæ, or babbling thrushes Part I (1881) edit

Richard Bowdler Sharpe / John Gerrard Keulemans

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Chloropsis viridinucha"
Plate II
"Hemixus cinereus"
Plate III
"Iole rufigularis"
Plate IV
"Criniger verreauxi"
Plate V
"Criniger frater"
Plate VI
"Criniger finschi, Criniger palawanensis"
Plate VII
"Xenocichla albigularis, Xenocichla olivacea"
Plate VIII
"Chlorocichla occidentalis"
Plate IX
"Pycnonotus simplex"
Plate X
"Pycnonotus pusillus"
Plate XI
"Cinnicerthia olivascens"
Plate XII
"Campylorhynchus pardus, Campylorhynchus gularis"
Plate XIII
"Thryothorus bairdi"
Plate XIV
"Thryothorus fasciativentris, Thryothorus melanogaster"
Plate XV
"Thryothorus amazonicus, Thryothorus griseipectus"
Plate XVI
"Anorthura fumigata, Anorthura pacifica"
Plate XVII
"Uropsila leucogastra"
Plate XVIII
"Cyphorhinus salvini, Cyphorhinus modulator"

Volume 7: Passeriformes Cichlomorphæ Part IV - Timeliidæ, or babbling thrushes Part II (1883) edit

Richard Bowdler Sharpe / Joseph Smit

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Cossypha leucosticta"
Plate II
"Alethe castanonota"
Plate III
"Apalis cerviniventris"
Plate IV
"Bradypterus sylvaticus"
Plate V
"Eremomela scotops, Eremomela usticollis"
Plate VI
"Stiphrornis erythothorax, Stiphrornis gabonensis"
Plate VII
"Prinia sylvatica (adults)"
Plate VIII
"Prinia sylvatica (immatures)"
Plate IX
"Pinarornis plumosus"
Plate X
"Trochalopteron jerdoni"
Plate XI
"Crateropus haynesi"
Plate XII
"Æthocichla gymnogenis"
Plate XIII
"Pellorneum intermedium, Malacopteron erythrote"
Plate XIV
"Trichostoma gulare"
Plate XV
"Erythropygia zambesiana, Erythropygia ruficauda"

Volume 8: Passeriformes Cichlomorphæ Part V and Certhiomorphæ (1883) edit

Hans Gadow / Joseph Smit

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Ægithalus caroli, Ægithalus capensis"
Plate II
"Telophonus ussheri, Telophonus blanfordi"
Plate III
"Laniarius poliochlamys"
Plate IV
"Laniarius melanothorax"
Plate V
"Nilaus capensis, Nilaus afer"
Plate VI
"Lanius dealbatus"
Plate VII
"Lanius elegans"
Plate VIII
"Lanius fallax"
Plate IX
"Pachycephalopsis poliosoma"

Volume 9: Passeriformes Cinnyrimorphæ (1884) edit

Hans Gadow / Joseph Smit

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Arachnothera polioptera, Arachnothera iliolophus"
Plate II
"Philemon cockerelli"
Plate III
"Myzomela guentheri"
Plate IV
"Ptilotis marmorata'"
Plate V
"Ptilotis megalorhynchus"
Plate VI
"Ptilotis polygramma"
Plate VII
"Ptilotis virescens, Ptilotis limbata"

Volume 10: Passeriformes Fringilliformes Part I (1885) edit

Richard Bowdler Sharpe / John Gerrard Keulemans

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Dicæum rubrocoronatum, Dicæum pulchrius"
Plate II
"Pholidornis rubrifrons, Lobornis alexandri"
Plate III
"Petrochelidon ruficollaris"
Plate IV
"Motacilla lugens, Motacilla ocularis"
Plate V
"Motacilla hodgsoni, Motacilla personata, Motacilla persica"
Plate VI
"Motacilla campestris, Motacilla flava, Motacilla beema"
Plate VII
"Motacilla borealis, Motacilla cinereicapilla"
Plate VIII
"Motacilla feldeggii, Motacilla kaleniczenkii, Motacilla xanthophrys"
Plate IX
"Geothlypis trichas, Geothlypis melanops, Geothlypis poliocephala, Geothlypis velata, Geothlypis chiriquensis, Geothlypis æquinoctialis, Geothlypis auricularis"
Plate X
"Geothlypis speciosa"
Plate XI
"Parula pitiayumi, Parula nigrilora"
Plate XII
"Teretistris fernandinæ, Teretistris fornsi"

Volume 11: Passeriformes Fringilliformes Part II - Cœrebidæ, Tanagridæ and Icteridæ (1886) edit

Philip Lutley Sclater / Joseph Smit

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Diglossa mystacalis"
Plate II
"Conirostrum fraseri, Dacnis salmoni"
Plate III
"Dacnis cœrebicolor"
Plate IV
"Chlorophanes purpurascens"
Plate V
"Certhiola martinicensis, Certhiola dominicana"
Plate VI
"Chlorophonia roraimæ, Chlorophonia flavirostris"
Plate VII
"Euphonia concinna"
Plate VIII
"Euphonia finschi, Euphonia saturata"
Plate IX
"Euphonia melanura"
Plate X
"Euphonia vittata"
Plate XI
"Phœnicothraupis gutturalis"
Plate XII
"Nemosia albigularis"
Plate XIII
"Thlypopsis ornata, Thlypopsis inornata"
Plate XIV
"Buarremon leucopis"
Plate XV
"Buarremon comptus"
Plate XVI
"Buarremon tricolor"
Plate XVII
"Arremon wuchereri"
Plate XVIII
"Icterus hauxwelli"

Volume 12: Passeriformes Fringilliformes Part III - Fringillidæ (1888) edit

Richard Bowdler Sharpe / William Matthew Hart

At the Internet Archive

Plate II
"Spermophila palustris"
Plate III
"Chrysomitris thibetana"
Plate IV
"Montifringilla blanfordi"
Plate V
"Passer pyrrhonotus"
Plate V
"Poliospiza rufibrunnea"
Plate VII
"Crithagra burtoni"
Plate VIII
"Crithagra crocopygia"
Plate IX
"Crithagra leucoptera"
Plate X
"Carpodacus ambiguus"
Plate XI
"Pyrrhula kurilensis"
Plate XII
"Emberiza godlweskii"
Plate XIII
"Zonotrichia whitii"
Plate XIV
"Poospiza boliviana"
Plate XV
"Rhodospingus cruentus, Rhodospingus mentalis"
Plate XVI
"Paroaria cucullata, Paroaria dominicana, Paroaria nigrigenis, Paroaria gularis, Paroaria capitata, Paroaria cervicalis"

Volume 13: Passeriformes Sturniformes (1890) edit

Richard Bowdler Sharpe / Joseph Smit

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Sturnus menzbieri"
Plate II
"Sturnus porphyronotus"
Plate III
"Poliopsar cambodianus"
Plate IV
"Poliopsar burmanicus, Poliopsar leucocephalus"
Plate V
"Sturnopastor contra, Sturnopastor superciliaris, Sturnopastor jalla"
Plate VI
"Aplonis brunnescens"
Plate VII
"Lamprocolius ignitus, Lamprocolius glaucovirens, Lamprocolius lessoni, Lamprocolius splendidus"
Plate VIII
"Lamprocolius purpureus, Lamprocolius chloropterus, Lamprocolius sycobius, Lamprocolius chalcurus, Lamprocolius purpureiceps, Lamprocolius cupreocaudatus"

Volume 14: Passeriformes Oligomyodæ (1888) edit

Philip Lutley Sclater / Joseph Smit

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Agriornis pollens"
Plate II
"Agriornis insolens"
Plate III
"Agriornis solitaria"
Plate IV
"Tænioptera holospodia"
Plate V
"Ochthodiœta fusco-rufus"
Plate VI
"Ochthœca leucometopa"
Plate VII
"Ochthœca citrinifrons, Ochthœca pulchella"
Plate VIII
"Platyrhynchus flavigularis, Platyrhynchus albigularis"
Plate IX
"Euscarthmus russatus, Euscarthmus impiger"
Plate X
"Leptopogon erythrops"
Plate XI
"Tyranniscus cinereiceps, Tyranniscus gracilipes"
Plate XII
"Elainea olivina"
Plate XIII
"Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus"
Plate XIV
"Sirystes albocinereus"
Plate XV
"Muscivora occidentalis"
Plate XVI
"Cnipodectes subbrunneus"
Plate XVII
"Myiobius flavicans"
Plate XVIII
"Myiobius roraimae"
Plate XIX
"Ceratopipra iracunda"
Plate XX
"Heteropelma wallacii"
Plate XXI
"Heteropelma flavicapillum"
Plate XXII
"Heteropelma igniceps"
Plate XXIII
"Heterocercus aurantiivertex"
Plate XXIV
"Hadrostomus homochrous"
Plate XXV
"Pachyramphus spodiurus"
Plate XXVI
"Iodopleura leucopygia"

Volume 15: Passeriformes Tracheophonæ (1890) edit

Philip Lutley Sclater / Joseph Smit

At the Internet Archive

Commons category

Plate I
"Geositta crassirostris"
Plate II
"Furnarius torridus"
Plate III
"Synallaxis adusta"
Plate IV
"Synallaxis subcristata"
Plate V
"Phacellodomus rufipennis"
Plate VI
"Automolus holostrictus"
Plate VII
"Automolus rubidus"
Plate VIII
"Philydor erythronotus"
Plate IX
"Philydor consobrinus"
Plate XI
"Thamnophilus aethiops"
Plate XII
"Thamnophilus nigriceps"
Plate XIII
"Thamnophilus insignis"
Plate XIII
"Thamnophilus albinuchalis"
Plate XV
"Myrmotherula erythrura"
Plate XVI
"Hypocnemis lepidonota"
Plate XVII
"Grallaria haplonota"
Plate XVIII
"Grallaria erythrotis"
Plate XIX
"Grallaria rufo-cinerea"
Plate XX
"Grallaria fulviventris"

Volume 16: Upupæ, Trochili, and Coraciæ Part I (1892) edit

Osbert Salvin & Ernst Hartert / John Gerrard Keulemans

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Upupa somalensis"
Plate II
"Irrisor bollii"
Plate III
"Irrisor jacksoni, Scoptelus castaneiceps"
Plate IV
"Panychlora micans, Chlorostilbon peruanus"
Plate V
"Heliangelus laticlavius, Heliangelus violiceps"
Plate VI
"Heliotrypa speciosa, Heliotrypa barzali"
Plate VII
"Agyrtria cæruliceps, Amazilia sumichrasti"
Plate VIII
"Iolæma luminosa, Phaeolæma cervinigularis"
Plate IX
"Eriocnemis dyselius, Eriocnemis ventralis"
Plate X
"Chætura ussheri"
Plate XI
"Caprimulgus griseatus"
Plate XII
"Caprimulgus whitelyi"
Plate XIII
"Lyncornis mindanensis"
Plate XIV
"Batrachostomus harterti"

Volume 17: Coraciæ Part II (1892) edit

Ernst Hartert / John Gerrard Keulemans & Joseph Smit

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Dicrocercus hirundineus, Dicrocercus furcatus, Melitophagus cyanostictus, Melitophagus meridionalis, Melitophagus pusillus"
Plate II
"Eurystomus orientalis, Eurystomus calonyx"
Plate III
"Eurystomus solomonensis, Eurystomus azureus"
Plate IV
"Alcedo quadribrachys, Alcedo guentheri"
Plate V
"Ceryle æquatoralis, Ceryle stictoptera"
Plate VI
"Halcyon torquatus, Halcyon forbesi, Halcyon malimbicus"
Plate VII
"Halcyon armstrongi, Halcyon solomonensis, Halcyon chloris"
Plate VIII
"Halcyon humii"
Plate IX
"Momotus bartletti"
Plate X
"Momotus subrufescens, Momotus microstephanus"
Plate XI
"Momotus æquatorialis"
Plate XII
"Colius leucotis, Colius affinis"
Plate XIII
"Lophoceros jacksoni"
Plate XIV
"Lophoceros damarensis"
Plate XVI
"Trogon bolivianus"
Plate XVI
"Hapaloderma vittatum"
Plate XVII
"Harpactes dulitensis"

Volume 18: Picariæ Part I (1890) edit

Edward Hargitt / Peter Smit

At the Internet Archive

Commons category

Plate I
"Chloronerpes xanthochlorus"
Plate II
"Chrysophlegma wrayi"
Plate III
"Melanerpes pulcher"
Plate IV
"Dendrocopus pyrrhothorax"
Plate V
"Iyngipicus nigrescens"
Plate VI
"Iyngipicus picatus, Iyngipicus grandis"
Plate VII
"Dendrobates fidelis"
Plate VIII
"Mesopicus xantholophus"
Plate IX
"Mesopicus johnstoni"
Plate X
"Celeus spectabilis"
Plate XI
"Cerchneipicus occidentalis"
Plate XII
"Chrysocolaptes rufopunctatus"
Plate XIII
"Thriponax pectoralis"
Plate XIV
"Picumnus flavifrons, Picumnus wallacii"
Plate XV
"Sasia everetti"

Volume 19: Picariæ Part II (1891) edit

Philip Lutley Sclater & G.E. Shelley / Joseph Smit & John Gerrard Keulemans

At the Internet Archive

Plate I
"Melanobucco aequatorialis"
Plate II
"Tricholæma stigmatothorax, Tricholæma affine"
Plate III
"Barbatula chrysopyga, Barbatula bilineata"
Plate IV
"Cyanops Davisoni, Cyanops Ramsayi, Cyanops incognita"
Plate V
"Capito versicolor, Capito steeri, Capito richardsoni, Capito salvini, Capito granadensis, Capito bourcieri"
Plate VI
"Pteroglossus didymus"
Plate VII
"Aulacorhamphus erythrognathus"
Plate VIII
"Aulacorhamphus calorhynchus"
Plate IX
"Aulacorhamphus whitelyanus"
Plate X
"Aulacorhamphus cyanolæmus"
Plate XI
"Coccystes caroli, Coccystes hypopinarius"
Plate XII
"Coccyzus dominicæ, Coccyzus minor, Coccyzus maynardi"
Plate XIII
"Centropus purpureus"