TO THE READER. 



your very ignorance will cause useless slaughter, and the 

 egg-collecting fever of the average boy savours more of the 

 greed of possession than of ornithological ardour. 



Finally, whoever you are who read these pages, spare for 

 me a little of your hoard of the same patience with which 

 you are to study the birds, if, while striving to lead you 

 through the wood-path, I often stumble or retrace my steps. 



M. 0. W. 



XVI 



