CHAPTER IV. 



How Birds are Described in This Book. 



Note i. The order in which the birds are 

 taken is mainly that of interest and discovery, 

 rather than the artificial one of ornithological 

 classification. The latter association is left for 

 later study. 



After naming each variety of bird, there is 

 first given a " General Description," which is in- 

 tended to answer to the first more superficial 

 impression which one receives of a bird, not 

 having had time to see in detail what it is like. 

 A more *' Particular Description " follows, but 

 one not too particular or technical for the aid of 

 young people, or of those who lack the ability 

 to use easily scientific terms. 



Note 2. By "length" of a bird we mean the 

 distance from end of bill to tip of tail, were the 

 bird dead and stretched out. The living bird is, 

 32 



