The numbers and names used in this book are those adopted by the American 
Ornithologists’ Union, and are known both in this country andabroad. The lengths 
given are averages; our small birds often vary considerably and may be found 
either slightly larger or smaller than those quoted. 
On some of the pages a number of sub-species are mentioned. Sub-species 
often cause confusion, because they are usually very similar to the original; they 
can best be identified by the locality in which they are found. 
Of course the writing of birds’ songs is an impossibility, but wherever I have 
thought it might prove of assistance, I have given a crude imitation of what it 
sounds like to me. The nests and eggs are described, as they often lead to the 
identity of a bird. We would suggest that you neatly, and with ink, make a cross 
against the name of each bird that you see in your locality, and also that you 
write at the top of the page, the date of the arrival and departure of each bird as 
you note it; these dates vary so much in different localities that we have not 
attempted to give them. 
As many will not wish to soil their books, we would suggest that they have a 
leather covered copy for the library and a cloth one for pocket use. 
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