PREFACE. 
—— 6 
Tue very kindly reception by the press, and a steady public 
appreciation, have led to this endeavour to make my little 
book more complete, by preparing an Enlarged Edition, 
including all British-breeding birds that have now any 
reasonable claim for treatment. The work deals with a 
number of more or less familiar winter visitors that do 
not stay to breed with us; however, this is perhaps an 
advantage nowadays, when we all travel much and far. 
As mentioned in the preface to the first Edition, this 
book is not intended to encourage the useless collecting 
of birds’ eges from a mere Jric-a-brac motive, but to aid 
the youthful naturalist in the study of one of the most 
interesting phases of bird life. It is to be hoped that the 
Act of Parliament empowering County Councils to protect 
either the eggs of certain birds, or those of all birds 
breeding within a given area, will be of great benefit to 
many of our feathered friends. 
Besides a pretty extensive experience, I have, in the 
preparation of this work, sought the aid of such excellent 
authorities as Yarrel (fourth Edition), Seebohm, Dixon, 
and others, to all of whom I gratefully acknowledge my 
indebtedness. 
R. KEARTON. 
Borenam Woop, Etstrer, Herts, 
1896. 
— 
