PREFACE. 
Tux question may naturally suggest itself to some of my readers, 
what object I had in view in publishing a work on the Birds 
of Great Britain, when I had already completed a similar publica- 
tion on the avifauna of Europe. My reasons are simply these :— 
Before the latter was completed the entire edition was all or 
nearly all sold; and very many persons interested in this depart- 
ment of science were disappointed in not being able to procure a 
copy of a work which they saw in the hands of so many others. 
Consequently, on the completion of my ‘ Birds of Australia,’ at the 
solicitation of a large number of private friends and others, and 
influenced by the increased taste for natural history that had sprung 
up in the interim, I ‘returned to my old love”? by publishing the 
British Birds, excluding those of the continent, thus complying with 
the wishes of those persons who have especially paid attention to our 
native ornithology. I also felt that there was an opportunity of 
greatly enriching the work by giving figures of the young of many 
of the species of various genera—a thing hitherto almost entirely 
neglected by authors; and I feel assured that this infantile age of 
bird-life will be of much interest for science, to my subscribers, and 
to readers generally. 
That my efforts to render this publication a standard work have 
been successful is evidenced by its sale being double that of any 
other work I have given to the public. Many of the numerous orni- 
thologists who have arisen within the last few years have rendered 
me much valuable information—a kindness which I duly acknow- 
ledge, and trust that, although not specially mentioned in this short 
Preface, they will take it for granted they have not been forgotten, 
and that their names have been generally associated with the various 
subjects to which their communications have reference. 
Many of the public are quite unaware how the colouring of 
