Preface 



than I have done. I only hope that my work may 

 help extend the growing enthusiasm for Nature- 

 study, and that the simple narrative of my personal 

 observations, written without any assumption of 

 technical learning, may interest many in my friends, 

 the Water-Fowl. 



Though my experiences, as narrated, have been 

 largely in the northern portions of the country, they 

 characterize almost equally well the Water-Fowl of 

 the middle districts, and the species mentioned, 

 wherever found. Owing to exigencies of space, 

 many of the illustrations are reduced in size from 

 the original photographs ; where there has been ap- 

 preciable enlargement, the fact and degree are noted. 



Companions in the held and other friends have 

 generously placed at my disposal even more of their 

 pictures than could be used, supplying certain gaps 

 in my material, and I wish herewith to express my 

 grateful acknowledgments to Messrs. A. C. Bent, 

 C. S. Day, Owen Durfee, Rev. C\ J. Young, W. 

 L. Baily,'W. H. Fisher and H. A. Shaw. 



Herbert K. Job. 



Kent, Connecticut, March, 1902. 



