PREFACE 



This little volume is intended as a pocket book for field use, 

 so that the many teachers, nature-students, nature-lovers, 

 schoolboys, schoolgirls, and boy scouts, who like to "see what 

 they look at," may be able to name the birds they meet. 



The first step towards knowing the birds is a desire to know 

 them; this will grow if a person is interested; so our first busi- 

 ness, as in all nature-study work, is to arouse interest. Interest 

 follows at once, as we have often found, if a person realizes 

 that what is about him or her is worthy of study. 



To arouse this necessary interest, a lecture on Australian birds 

 is given in such a form that it may be repeated, if desired. 



The second requisite is a handy descriptive list of the birds 

 that are likely to be seen. This has been written in simple lan- 

 guage, so that the schoolboy and non-expert can use it. 



Thus, our aims are two: — 



1. To show that Australian birds are of interest. 



2. To supply, in a convenient form, a list of the birds which 



are likely to be seen, and the marks by means of which 

 they may be identified. 

 This little book contains illustrations and descriptions of — 

 100 % of the birds found in Victoria. 



92.5 % South Australia. 



87.3 % Tasmania. 



82.5 % New South Wales. 



78.16 % W. Australia (S. and C). 



78.15 % Queensland. 



The balance of those found in each of the other States is made 

 up mainly of birds closely related to those of which illustrations 

 are given, or of very rare birds restricted to a small area. 



The families of the birds of the world have been included, so 

 that the observer can see where the bird he is observing is 

 placed amongst the world's birds. He will also be enabled to 

 place near its Australian relatives birds he reads about. The 

 Australian birds only are grouped in orders. 



Mr. H. Wilson, Nature-study Lecturer, Training College, super- 

 intended the painting of the birds, and saw the book through the 

 press. 



A Hand-List of Birds: Dr. Sharpe; and A Hand-List of the 

 Birds of Australasia: Gregory M. Mathews, have been followed 

 for classification and distribution. 



But for the interest of the Minister of Education, the Hon. A. 

 A. Billson, and the Director, Mr. F. Tate, M.A., I.S.O., this little 

 book would not have been possible. Further, Mr. Billson sug- 

 gested the colored illustrations, while Mr. Tate has written the 

 introduction, read the proof-sheets and assisted at all stages. 



(7) 



