INTRODUCTION 



About one hundred and thirty of the most 

 common and interesting land birds of the non- 

 mountainous parts of Northern New York are 

 mentioned in this pocket booklet. The latter 

 therefor has for its scope practically all the 

 land birds one is likely to find near the northern 

 New York border in the course of a year's ob- 

 servation. Four species of water birds, being 

 commonly found in generally dry situations in- 

 land, are included. 



The illustrations, based as they are on life 

 sketches of wild birds, may give helpful impres- 

 sions of the appearance of the birds in nature. 

 Many of these drawings were made especially for 

 the present use and now appear for the first time. 

 Others have appeared in The Guide to Nature 

 magazine, and the picture of a grouse has 

 been printed in "Field and Stream." The 

 general arrangement of both text and draw- 

 ings is calculated to serve as a convenient key to 

 species. In this connection the species are consid- 

 ered from the point of view of the beginner who 

 naturally sees what is most apparent rather than 

 what is most characteristic. While, therefore, 

 there could be little adherence to scientific classi- 

 fication under this arrangement, it is hoped 

 the booklet will prove even more practical and 

 usable, within its scope, than the usual rather in- 

 tricate and complicated color-key. This, particu- 



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