THE BIRDS 

 OF THE BRITISH ISLES 



AND THEIR EGGS. 

 PART I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The title of a bird to rank as British is a matter of personal 

 opinion. When, in 1882, a Committee of the British Ornitho- 

 logists' Union issued a " List " the number accepted was 376, 

 and in 1889, Howard Saunders, in the second edition of his 

 " Manual, " included 384, although rejecting some species 

 accepted by other members of the Committee. By the inclusion 

 of geographical races or sub-species, and the addition of many 

 accidental stragglers of recent occurrence, the editors of " A 

 Hand-List of British Birds," 191 2, raised the number to 469, 

 and the revised B.O.U. list of 1915 brings it to 475. There have 

 been a few additions in the last four years. 



Although advance of knowledge increased the list, sound 

 criticism cast out many species formerly included, either because 

 of slender identification or the presumptive evidence that the 

 birds had escaped from captivity. Further information may prove 

 that some of the rejected species, especially those whose natural 

 habitat is America, are genuine wild visitors ; it may also cause 

 the rejection of some at present accepted. The B.O.U. list is 

 analysed as follows — Residents, 141: Summer Visitors, 475 



Series I, B 



