INTRODUCTION xv 



limits of the British Islands, a branch of the sub- 

 ject which has been thoroughly dealt with in the 

 pages of Yarrell and Saunders. As for facts bear- 

 ing on the life-history of the species enumerated, 

 it has been thought better to avoid the repetition 

 of statements which have been already made in 

 the two works just mentioned, and in lieu thereof 

 to publish original observations on points not pre- 

 viously elucidated. To do this at any length was 

 found impossible, for the considerations above men- 

 tioned, and where want of space has precluded the 

 discussion of interesting problems, reference has 

 been made to volumes and pages where fuller in- 

 formation may be obtained. In this way it is 

 hoped that the utility of this " Handbook " has been 

 enhanced to an extent not contemplated in the 

 former edition. 



It remains to add a few words on the important 

 subjects of Classification and Nomenclature. It is 

 unnecessary to examine and contrast the various 

 systems of classification which have been put forth 

 from time to time by writers on ornithology, for 

 this has already been done by Professor Newton 

 in the exhaustive Introduction to his " Dictionary 

 of Birds." No more can be expected of the present 

 writer than to give reasons for the faith that is in 

 him. Suffice it then to say, that although to disciples 

 of the modern school it may appear old-fashioned 

 to adopt a scheme of classification which, com- 

 mencing with the birds of prey, followed by the 



