xiv INTRODUCTION. 



of Bewick's classic History of British Birds — a 

 work, completed by the issue of the second volume 

 seven years later, that gave more or less accurate 

 pictures of all the species, and one that has re- 

 tained a high place in the affections of ornithologists 

 and artistic people generally down to the present 

 time. To a certain extent, Mr. Duncan's volume 

 very closely resembles the books of the immortal 

 engraver on wood ; and in some respects, as those 

 who have the pleasure of inspecting his remarkable 

 series of drawings will find for themselves, it is 

 superior. The present book, so far as British birds 

 are concerned, is practically unique. For the first 

 time, an up-to-date manual, containing an accurate 

 and artistic picture of every species, is placed within 

 the reach of the multitude by reason of its very 

 modest price. Hitherto, so far as we can recall, the 

 cheapest with which it can be compared is published 

 at four times the cost. Mr. Duncan's book must not 

 be criticised from a literary point of view, its claims 

 in that direction purposely being exceptionally small. 

 Neither must the systematlst judge it by his varying 

 standards. It appeals to us, like Bewick's, solely 

 through the merits of its remarkably accurate and life- 

 like drawings of British birds — a set of pictures that 

 we feel sure will prove of great service to any person 

 anxious to become familiar with and able to name at 

 a glance the four hundred or so species that are up to 

 the present time included as British ; whilst the con- 



