P R S P E C T U S 



"THE BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN," 



JOHN GOULD, F.R.S., etc. 



Thk Author has hecn induced to commence a work under the ahove 

 title at the urgent request of numerous scientific Friends and Sub- 

 scribers to his former publications, and he trusts he shall not disap- 

 point them in their desire for a standard work on our native birds. 



" The Birds of Great Britain " will be published in Imperial Folio, 

 at the rate of two Parts a year, price Three Guineas each ; the Sub- 

 scription will therefore be Six Guineas per annum. The precise 

 immber of Parts cannot be stated, but it is expected that the work 

 will be completed in eight or nine years. With the last Part a full 

 introduction to the subject will be published, together with Titles 

 and every requisite to form the whole into five volumes ; the first 

 of which will comprise the llaptores or Birds of Prey ; the second 

 and third, the Inscssorcs or Perching Birds ; the fourth, the Biisorcs 

 and Grallatores ; and the fifth, the Natatores or Swimming Birds. 



It must not be supposed that this work is a continuation of, or 

 similar to, the "Birds of Europe ;" the subjects are very differently 

 treated as to the illustrations, the letterpress is much more volumi- 

 nous, and the figures of the infantine states of most of the genera 

 render it quite distinct. 



The Author makes it a sine qud non that the name of every Sub- 

 scriber shall be given, and the Subscription paid on delivery, or at 

 least annually ; and he trusts that no person will commence the 

 Subscription without continuing it to its close. 



Any additional information may be obtained by letter or by per- 

 sonal application to the Author at his house, 2G Charlotte Street, 

 Bedford Square, London, W.C. 



[Turn over. 

 Au(/iisf I, 18(52. 



