TO THE READER. 
In pursuance of the course adopted when preparing the in- 
troductory matter of my works on the ‘ Birds of Australia,’ 
the ‘Mammals’ of the same country, and the ‘ Monograph 
of the Trochilide,’ I have had the ‘ Introduction to the Birds 
of Great Britain’ set up in small type for the convenience of 
correction before printing it for the folio work ; by this means 
I have been enabled to review the entire subject, to draw up a 
complete list of the species I have thought it advisable to 
include in the British avifauna, and to make those corrections 
and additions which have become necessary while the work 
was 1 progress. 
It should be borne in mind that this ‘ Introduction’ is not 
intended in any way in substitution for the letterpress already 
published in the folio work, but rather in augmentation of 
what is there stated and as a general summary. Those who 
do not already possess the folio edition will not be able to 
dispense with it on the acquisition of the present volume, 
while, it is hoped, it will be found a useful supplement and 
index. 
