INTRODUCTION. 

 HOW THE AUTHOR WAS LED TO THE STUDY OF NATURE, 



13 



PART FIRST. 

 THE EGG, .. 



THE POLE— AQC7ATIC BIRDS, 

 THE WING, 



THE FIRST FLUTTERINGS OF THE WING, 

 TRIUMPH OF THE WING— THE FRIGATE BIRD, .. 

 THE SHORES— DECAY OF CERTAIN SPECIES, 

 THE HERONRIES OF AMERICA— WILSON, THE ORNITHOLOGIST, 

 THE COMBAT— THE TROPICAL REGIONS, .. 

 PURIFICATION, 

 DEATH— BIRDS OF PREY ^THE RAPTORES), 



71 

 81 

 91 



101 

 111 

 121 

 131 

 143 

 153 



PART SECOND. 



THE LIGHT— THE NIGHT, .. 

 STORM AND WINTER— MIGRATIONS, 

 MIGRATIONS, Confuiiteti— THE SWALLOW, 

 HARMONIES OF THE TEMPERATE ZONE, 

 THE BIRD AS THE LABOURER OF MAN. 



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