lO PREFACE. 



To Mr. W. H. Hudson I tender my best thanks 

 for many interesting paragraphs I have extracted 

 from his valuable book on British Birds. These 

 have helped me materially in making my Handbook 

 not altogether dry-as-dust reading; my only regret 

 is that, being a collector, I shall probably have 

 incurred his displeasure. My thanks are also due 

 to Mr. Swaysland for quotations from his book — 

 •' Familiar Wild Birds " — to Mr. Pycraft for several 

 references to his " Story of Bird Life," and to Mr. 

 Henry Scherren for assistance in preparing my 

 manuscript for the press. 



Caterham Valley Hotel, 

 Caterham. 

 September^ i^oy. 



