INTRODUCTION. 



This attempt at a '^Key List ^^ o£ Britisli Birds is not intended 

 for scientific ornithologists^ but for those who have only a slight 

 knowledge of birds^ so as to enable them to determine a species 

 without having to search through bulky volumes. 



Of course, such a list must be, to a great extent (as all Natural 

 History works are), a compilation ; but the writer has examined 

 and compared specimens of all the species. 



Every endeavour has been made to avoid technical and scientific 

 terms and to be as concise as possible. 



American land-birds included in " British " lists have been 

 omitted ; others might with propriety be struck out — such as 

 specimens escaped from captivity, or included without sufiicient 

 inquiry as to their authenticity. 



With slight modifications, the nomenclature and arrangement 

 of the ' Ibis ' List have been followed. 



Measurements of length are given, but only as an attempt to 

 show the proportionate size of a species. In the writer's opinion 

 measurements are not of much service, especially as hardly any 

 two persons measure a bird in the same manner. 



Unless otherwise stated, the sexes are alike in plumage, and 

 the remarks refer to adults in summer plumage. 



A species is called " resident " when it is found in the country 

 throughout the year, but there is no doubt that even among resi- 

 dents there is a partial migration. 



