INTRODUCTION vii 



seen that this applies chiefly to the length of a bird 

 in the flesh, since the other dimensions of bill, wing, 

 and tarsus are not liable to greater variation than 

 arises from a difierence of age or sex. Where this 

 is considerable, as in the case of the Eagles, Falcons, 

 Hawks, Black Grouse, Pheasant, Bustard, Curlew, 

 Godwit, and some others, the dimensions of both 

 male and female are given, and in many cases the 

 expanse of wing has been added, as well as the 

 weight of both sexes. 



It has been the practice of the author for very 

 many years to measure and weigh the game birds 

 and wild fowl shot by him in order to ascertain the 

 average and relative dimensions of each species, and 

 this plan has been also adopted when rare birds shot 

 by other persons have been obligingly forwarded 

 for examination/ These particulars were not given 

 in the former edition of this " Handbook," but are 

 now published as a useful addition to the volume. 



As for the illustrations, they may be said to 

 speak for themselves. They have been executed 

 in response to a repeated demand for a book on 

 British birds with accurately coloured plates vn one 

 volume. This the booksellers have been hitherto 

 unable to supply, the expensively coloured works 

 of Gould and the late Lord Lilford each costing 

 not less than forty guineas, being altogether beyond 



* Here it may be well to correct an error wliich appears on page 

 209. The expanse of wing in the Glossy Ibis measured was 33 in., not 

 3f) in., and the weight 12| oz., or about that of a partridge. 



