Prelude 
to depreciate and thus fail to utilize their own 
more limited advantages. If there be any prac- 
tical value in the following narrative, it lies 
just in the fact that it is zo¢ exceptional. Any 
observant visitor to the Park can verify for 
himself the record here given ; nor do I appre- 
hend that the Park itself, as compared with 
equal areas elsewhere, is remarkably favored in 
opportunities for this pursuit. Indeed, during 
a large part of the year its public character and 
exposure are plainly detrimental to the suc- 
cess of the naturalist, and innumerable places 
throughout the country are equally favorable, 
or more so, for this line of study. The en- 
couragement of this record to the beginner is 
in the fact that it is such an ordinary one. 
The work, however, will be found to contain 
much more than a year’s individual experience ; 
for by interweaving with the narrative the dis- 
cussion of all the prominent aspects of bird- 
life that pertain to field ornithology, the book 
aims to give a much more comprehensive view 
of the subject than could be afforded in a 
raerely personal and local chronicle. And 
while it may not contain any new disclosures 
for the experienced naturalist, yet in the event 
of such perusal, it is a satisfaction to remember 
— 
