PREFACE. 



The main reason for the publication of this book is 

 Mr Rankin's magnificent series of 130 coloured plates 

 of British-nesting birds. The series includes nearly all 

 the species which nest in the British Isles in appreciable 

 numbers, and a few rarer birds of special interest. No 

 rigid rule has been followed in the selection, and the 

 reasons for inclusion or exclusion vary from case to case. 

 Where numerical importance was not a decisive factor, 

 the question was usually determined by the presence or 

 absence of points of special interest. Somewhat imcommon 

 birds are thus often excluded because near relatives more 

 frequently met with have already found places, while much 

 rarer species are included because they are the sole repre- 

 sentatives of their respective gi'oups. 



Each plate slwws the adult male in full plumage. 

 Important differences in this respect between the sexes 

 are briefly indicated in the text ; if very marked, the 

 female is also shown in the plate. The characteristic 

 variations in plumage caused by age and change of 

 season are also referred to. In addition to the bird, the 

 nest is portrayed ; if it is of such a nature that the 

 eggs are not visible in siiu, an egg, drawn on the same 

 scale, is given as an inset. As nestlings could not be 

 shown as well as eggs, two special plates have been 

 added to make good the deficiency (see pp. 89, 225). 

 Convenience has in several cases necessitated the portrayal 

 of bii'ds under somewhat unusual circumstances ; the most 

 important cases are those of the various Ducks, where 

 the male is shown beside the nest (see p. 134). 



