INTRODUCTION 



BIRDS being the most conspicuous and mobile of 

 our native fauna and far outnumbering all other 

 vertebrate animals in variety of species, it is natural 

 that the literature devoted to that phylum should exceed 

 in volume that which deals with any other. Ornithology, 

 in common with every other province of zoology, tends 

 more and more to specialization, and little addition to 

 our knowledge of birds can be attained save through 

 research and observation by experts. But there are two 

 classes of experts — those who, conducting research in the 

 museum and laboratory, deal with the structure, biology, 

 and classification of birds, and those who, as trained 

 observers, work in the open air and record the habits and 

 actions of birds. These two classes of students are auxiHar}^ 

 to each other ; each would make uncertain progress if 

 debarred from knowledge of results achieved by the other. 

 Mr. Mortimer Batten takes rank as a field-naturaHst of 

 experience. Perusal of his manuscript has shown me 

 how much patient energy he has devoted to observing 

 birds in their natural environment, enabling him to 

 contribute valuable notes on their behaviour. As an 

 instance of his keen sight I may refer to his description 

 of a moorhen diving (p. 1 16). Not every lover of country 

 life may have observed that when this bird dives, as it 

 sometimes does when alarmed, it propels itself under 

 water by its wings, whereas regular divers, like the pochard 

 and the tufted duck, use only their legs and feet, keeping 

 the wings closed. 



Every intelligent agriculturist will endorse Mr. Batten's 

 advocacy of stricter protection for the lapwing. It is 



