PREFACE 



abundant supply of energy, and a considerable stock of 

 patience. Sometimes we were able to include, also, a 

 railway ticket to some country district near at hand. 



Any trace of scientific ornithology which may be 

 found in the pages which follow has been admitted with 

 some misgiving, as we realise that this branch of bird- 

 study is mostly outside our realm. The scientific names 

 of the species mentioned have been included at the end of 

 the book simply and solely for the purpose of identification. 

 We cannot guarantee even that the nomenclature used will 

 please all ornithologists, but we intend to shelter in this 

 regard behind the excellent and common-sense "Australian 

 Bird Book," written by Dr. J. A. Leach, and produced by 

 the publishers of this volume. The help we have derived 

 in the field from the work of this writer has been con- 

 siderable. 



Our chief indebtedness to Dr. Leach is of a more per- 

 sonal nature. His experienced advice on many questions 

 has simplified our work, and besides he has written the 

 Introduction to this book. In return for the valuable time 

 he has thus spent, he asks but one thing: that we do all in 

 our power to further the cause of Nature Study. 



In conclusion, we must make an acknowledgment of the 

 part played in the production of this volume by our parents 

 and by other members of our families. Without their 

 financial assistance during our younger days, and their 

 encouragement at all times, the photographic results we 

 have obtained would not have been possible. They also 

 placed at our disposal the house which has sheltered many 

 happy week-ends at Ferntree Gully. To Mr. R. W. Little- 

 johns our special thanks are due. From the outset he has 

 spared no pains and no expense to encourage us in our 

 efforts. Not only did he purchase one of the cameras we 

 still use, but also provided us with several pieces of 

 apparatus without which the task of preparing the illustra- 

 tions for this book would have been a heavy one indeed. 



We feel sure that parental assistance, in money and 

 otherwise, corresponding to that which we were fortunate 

 enough to receive, will bring a deep and lasting satisfaction 

 to all whose children show a genuine desire to read from the 

 great open book of Nature. 



R.T.L. AND S.A.L. 



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