Preface 
Tuis Third Part of my book completes the 
task I set myself, viz., of describing in words 
and illustrating by photographs ‘the birds 
and their nests and eggs’ found near London 
and similar large towns. ‘The three Parts 
embody accounts of excursions taken near 
the Metropolis by myself alone, or in com- 
pany with my valued naturalist friend, Mr. 
Alfred Hodgkinson, during three seasons, 
with limited time at our disposal. 
I have found that short word-pictures of 
the various kinds of birds and the chief points 
connected with them are a most valuable 
method of gaining familiarity with our fea- 
thered friends. I have included such of all 
the commonest that we have met with near 
London, numbering fifty-two, adding short 
descriptions of some others that may be seen 
also occasionally. Together with these word- 
pictures, illustrations may be employed and 
will add greatly to the result. Nothing can 
take the place of finding the birds themselves, 
but a previous acquaintance with good illus- 
trations of them and their written character- 
istics is the best way to learn them (and this 
applies also to the nests and eggs). It will, 
vill 
