A Book on Birds 



far upon the threshold of my book will 

 of course perceive its purpose at once. 



It is designed to arouse and inspire, 

 rather than instruct; to uplift and gladden 

 the heart by moving it to enter a pleasant 

 field of profitable diversion, rather than 

 to impart scientific knowledge. And the 

 author ventures to write while still but a 

 beginner himself because he has thought 

 he will thus keep more truly shoulder to 

 shoulder with beginners, and thereby help 

 them the more. 



The first fresh enthusiasm of a new 

 outlook upon things of this kind must 

 be reckoned as no small factor in the 

 attainment of the object he has in mind. 

 And therefore — while not neglecting to 

 keep close to the line of authenticity and 

 fact in presenting his experiences, so that 

 those who may desire to follow may do so 

 smoothly, nor be misled; and, indeed, 

 even trying always, for this very reason, 

 to give an especially exact though con- 

 cise description of each bird and circum- 

 stance as he has seen it — he has at the 



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