PREFACE 



I have no sympathy — the species represented by a 

 boy famous in fiction, whose fondness for birds 

 always led him to throw stones at them. It includes 

 many varieties and sub-varieties, but all its repre- 

 sentatives are either random slaughterers or cold- 

 blooded exterminators. I would urge my readers 

 to oppose them by joining the Society for the Pro- 

 tection of Birds} 



The illustrations are, nearly all of them, by Mr. 

 Prendergast Parker, who has taken great pains to 

 make them accurate and really illustrative. Professor 

 Howes has very kindly watched their progress and in a 

 good many cases provided the specimens from which 

 they were drawn. I am much indebted to him for 

 this great assistance. Dr. Hans Gadow, Mr. W. B. 

 Hardy, Mr. Gilson, and Mr. Macpherson have been 

 very kind in reading proof-sheets, and I wish most 

 warmly to thank them for the great service they 

 have thus rendered me. 



1 For particulars about the Society address the Hon, 

 Secretary, Mrs. F. E. Lemon Hillcrest, Redhill, Surrey. 



