In Preparation _ 


A NEW AND REVISED EDITION OF 
YARRELL, NEWTON, AND SAUNDERS’ 
HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS — 
WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, F.R.S.E., F.L.S. 
Keeper of the Natural History Department, The Royal Scottish Museum; Member of the — 
British Association Committee on the Migration of Birds as Observed on the British . 
and Irish Coasts; Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union; ; 
Correspondirender Mitglied des Ornithologischen Vereins in Wien; 
Membre Honoraire du Bureau Central Ornithologique Hongrois; — 
Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union, etc, 
ILLUSTRATED BY ORIGINAL COLOURED PLATES OF EACH SPECIES 
SPECIALLY EXECUTED BY 
MISS LILIAN MEDLAND 


oe publication of Yarrell's “History of British Birds” was 
commenced in 1837 and completed in 1843. Its outstanding 
merits were at once recognised, and a Second Edition was 
called for in 1845, followed by a third in 1856. 
From the issue of the Original Edition down to the present — 
day, Yarrell’s “History of British Birds” has generally and 
deservedly been regarded as the standard authority on British 
ornithology. | 
In the year 1871 a Fourth Edition was begun, under the 
masterly editorship of Professor Newton—the greatest British 
ornithologist of all time. Unfortunately Professor Newton’s © 
official engagements at the University of Cambridge only allowed 
him to complete the first two volumes; and in 1882 Mr Howard 
Saunders was selected to edit the remaining volumes, a task 
which he successfully accomplished to the entire satisfaction of 
ornithologists in 1885. 
The many excellences of this last edition advanced the work 
more than ever in the public and in scientific favour. To its 
stimulating influence is to be mainly attributed the marvellous and 
unprecedented activity which has resulted in those extraordinary 
advances made in all branches of British ornithology during 
~ recent years—advances which have rendered it essential that a 
new work based upon this classical and comprehensive founda- 
tion should be issued. 
During the period alluded to, a considerable number of new 
and interesting species have been added to our avifauna. The 
[Continued on Page 3 of Cove 
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