PREFACE. 



I HAVE now for years been engaged in a study of Orni- 

 thology ; and from my numerous notes, principally on 

 the economy of our commoner inland birds, I conceived 

 the idea that from them might be compiled a little 

 volume that might doubtless prove of interest to those 

 persons who have a love for rural pursuits and the study 

 of nature. There are also I believe a few fresh facts 

 on the economy of birds noted, which I respectfully 

 submit to working ornithologists, as well as several 

 moot questions, relating to the natural history of 

 birds, discussed, and opinions, gained by experience, 

 promulgated. 



Had I spent more of my time amongst books instead 

 of amongst bogs, I have no doubt but what this little 

 volume would have found more favour amonsfst a certain 

 class of naturalists, no matter how questionable or 

 erroneous the matter it contained. But such was never 

 my intention. A work purely original I intended it to 

 be — a work whose materials have been obtained by un- 



