vi PREFACE, 



Colonel C. Russell, who contributes the second article, 

 has made the Sparrow Question the subject of close 

 investigation for fifteen years, and the results are given 

 in interesting detail and fulness in his Article. Colonel 

 Russell gave evidence of great value on the Sparrow and 

 other birds, before a Select Committee on the Protection 

 of Wild Birds, June, 1873. Colonel Russell, it may 

 be added, cultivates one of the farms on his estate, 

 and is known to many for his valuable contributions 

 to the * Report of Observations of Injurious Insects and 

 Farm Pests,' by Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod. The 

 publishers also desire to express their thanks to this 

 lady for her kind assistance, without which, one of the 

 following contributions would probably have not been 

 obtained. 



Dr. Elliott Coues is one of the most distinguished 

 Ornithologists in America, and is the author of numerous 

 books and articles on Ornithology. His greatest work is 

 a ' Key to North American Birds,' etc., with 561 illustra- 

 tions, a valuable work, the second edition of which was 

 published last year in England, by Messrs. Macmillan 

 and Co. 



July, 1885. 



