ILLUSTRATIONS. 



The illustrations in this volume are designed to aid the student in identi- 

 fying birds in their haunts by giving, in color, those markings which most 

 quickly catch the eye. They do not pretend to be perfect reproductions of 

 every shade and tint of the plumage of the species they figure, but aim to 

 present a bird's characteristic colors as they appear when seen at a distance. 

 It was inpracticable to draw all the birds to the same scale but all those on 

 the same page are so figured. Reference should always be made, however, 

 to the measurements given at the beginning of each description. The figures 

 are based on the male bird. 



LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. 



S . The sign of Mars, signifying male. 



$ . The sign of Venus, signifying female. 



Ad. Adult, a bird in fully mature plumage. 



Yng. Young, a fully grown bird which has not yet acquired the plumage 



of the adult. 

 L. Length, the distance from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail. This 

 measurement is made from dead birds, birds in life appear somewhat 

 shorter. 

 W. Wing, the distance from the 'bend' of the wing to the end of the longest 



feather. 

 T. Tail, the distance from the insertion of the tail-feathers to the end of the 



longest one. 

 Tar. Tarsus, the distance from the heel to the insertion of the toes, or of 



the so-called 'leg.' 

 B. Bill, the distance from the feathers at the base of the bill above to its tip. 

 Note. All measurements are in inches and tenths, and a variation of about 

 ten per cent, from the figures given may be expected. The number before 

 the name <>f each species is that of the American Ornithologists' Union's 

 'Check-List of North American Birds.' 



