PREFACE. 



How unusual it is to meet any one who can correctly 

 name a dozen of our birds ! One may live in the country 

 and still know only two or three of the one hundred and 

 fifty or more kinds of birds that may be found during 

 the year. Nevertheless, these gay, restless creatures, 

 both by voice and action, constantly invite our attention, 

 and they are far too interesting and beautiful to be 

 ignored. No one to whom Nature appeals should be 

 vtdthout some knowledge of these, the most attractive of 

 her animate forms. 



The scientific results to be derived from the study of 

 birds are fully realized by the naturalist. But there are 

 other results equally important. I would have every one 

 know of them : results that add to our pleasure in field 

 and wood, and give fresh interest to walks that before 

 were eventless ; that quicken both ear and eye, making 

 us hear and see where before we were deaf and blind. 

 Then, to our surprise, we shall discover that the forests 

 and pastures we have known all our lives are tenanted 

 by countless feathered inhabitants whose companionship 

 will prove a source of endless enjoyment. 



I would enter a special plea for the study of birds in 

 the schools ; for the more general introduction of 

 ornithology in natural-history courses. Frogs and cray- 

 fish serve an excellent purpose, but we may not en- 

 counter either of them after leaving the laboratory ; 

 whereas birds not only offer excellent opportunities for 

 2 ix 



