iv Preface. 



stone by myself, as well as the other illustrations of birds 

 and scenery. 



It must be understood that the book does not describe all 

 the species which inhabit the North-West, for many common 

 species known to be summer residents were not even observed, 

 and the songs of many warblers, vireos, sparrows, and other 

 small birds were heard in the bluffs and along the wooded 

 streams, Ijut I could not recognize the species. At some future 

 time I hope to be able to give a more complete list of the 

 birds of the North-West, and having recently succeeded in 

 obtaining collectors at Great Slave Lake, and at the mouth of 

 tlie Mackenzie River, on the Arctic coast, I hope, before long 

 to be able to give an account of the birds which breed in 

 this northern region. 



Though this book claims no literary pretentions, I trust 



my readers will find it of sufficient interest to be worthy of 



their perusal, and, with all its faults, I therefore place it 



before you. 



WALTER RAINE. 



Toronto, 1892. 



