Vin INTRODUCTIOIT 



The plumages are described in only enough detail to enable the 

 reader to trace the sequence of molts and plumages from birth to 

 maturity and to recognize the birds in the different stages and at the 

 different seasons. No attempt has been made to fully describe adult 

 plumages; this has been already well done in the many manuals. 

 The names of colors, when in quotation marks, are taken from Eidg- 

 way's Color Standards and Nomenclature (1912) and the terms used 

 to describe the shapes of eggs are taken from his Nomenclature of 

 Colors (1886 edition). The heavy-faced type in the measurements 

 of eggs indicate the four extremes of measurements. 



Many of those who contributed material for former volumes have 

 rendered a similar service in this case. • In addition to those whose 

 contributions have been acknowledged previously, our thanks are due 

 to the following new contributors : Photographs, notes, or data have 

 been contributed by E. G. Alexander, C. M. Beal, W. W. Bennett, 

 A. D. Boyle, W. J. Brown, M. H. Burroughs, J. J. Carroll, N. W. 

 Cayley, Kalph Chislett, W. M. Congreve, S. J. Darcus, H. G. 

 Deignare, Jonathan Dwight, F. F. Gander, T. S. Gillin, W. E. Glegg, 

 S. P. Gordon, Frank Grasett, K. W. Harding, L. L. Haskin, E. A. 

 Hyer, T. A. James, F. Kermode, H. M. Laing, Carl Lien, G. H. 

 Lings, Julian Lyder, S. H. Lyman, M. J. Magee, Miss M. E. Mc- 

 Lellan, F. C. Pellett, R. T. Peterson, H. H. Pittman, C. A. Proctor, 

 J. C. Salyer, A. W. Schorger, Althea R. Sherman, L. W. Smith, 

 E. L. Sumner, jr., Malcolm Taylor, jr., R. M. Thorburn, C. H. 

 Townsend, Josselj^n Van Tyne, Stanton Warburton, jr., Alexander 

 Wetmore, F. N. Wilson, L. R. Wolfe. 



Receipt of material from over 275 contributors has been acknowl- 

 edged in previous volumes. 



Through the courtesy of the Biological Survey, the services of 

 Frederick C. Lincoln were again secured to compile the distribu- 

 tion paragraphs. With the matchless reference files of the Biologi- 

 cal Survey, at his disposal and with some advice and help from Dr. 

 Harry C. Oberholser, his many hours of careful and thorough work 

 have produced results far more satisfactory than could have been 

 attained by the author, who claims no credit and assumes no 

 responsibility for this part of the work. 



Dr. Charles W. Townsend has contributed the life histories of 

 two species ; the Rev. Francis C. R. Jourdain has furnished valuable 

 notes for two, has written nine new life histories and two of his have 

 been transferred from the previous volume; and Dr. Winsor M. 

 Tyler has contributed two life histories. The author is much in- 

 debted to Dr. Charles W. Richmond for many hours of careful and 

 sympathetic work in reading the proof and correcting errors in this 

 and all previous volumes; his expert knowledge has been of great 

 value. 



