


“HISTORY OF arin BIRDS —continued 
histories of very many others, eich were formerly little known, 
have been fully elucidated, while, speaking generally, an immense 
increase in our knowledge on such important subjects as Migra- 
tion, Distribution, Habits, Nidification, Plumages, has accrued: 
_ And lastly, a new and important branch of study has been instituted 
—namely, the recognition of the various Racial Forms or Sub- 
species exhibited by certain birds in the British Islands, on the 
Continent, and elsewhere. 
A great advance has also been made towards a more satis- 
factory system of classification of the Aves—always a difficult 
subject—and this necessitates departures from the older views. 
To bring this Standard Work thoroughly abreast of the most 
recent knowledge in all these departments is the object of the 
present work. 
It should be remarked that while it is not intended to go fully 
into Synonomy, yet, where changes of nomenclature have been 
necessary in order to conform with the Law of Priority—the only 
method by which complete uniformity in nomenclature can ulti- 
mately be attained—the names used in the Fourth Edition of 
Yarrell’s “British Birds” and in Saunders’ “Manual,” and the 
Trinomial Names of the British Racial Forms, and of those 
occurring in Britain as visitors from the Continent, will be quoted, 
as will also the Original Name under which the species was 
described. 
_In requesting Mr Eagle Clarke to undertake the duties of 
Editorship, the Publishers desire to make it known that they are 
acting under the advice of the late Mr Howard Saunders, who 
placed all his collected notes for a New Edition at Mr Eagle 
Clarke’s disposal for this purpose. That Mr Eagle Clarke is emin- 
ently fitted for the work is well known to all who are interested in 
ornithological science. Through his investigations of the subject, 
and contributions to its literature, he has long been recognised 
as one of the foremost authorities on all that relates to British 
birds. He has studied our native birds in many portions of 
the British Islands, and has visited a number of bird-haunts 
in various parts of Europe in order to become acquainted 
in their Continental homes with the visitants that seek our 
shores. 
On the important matter of the Migrations performed by 
British Birds, Mr Eagle Clarke’s knowledge is unrivalled—a 
material fact, when it is called to mind how little has been said 
on this most important subject in any published History of 
British Birds. 
A new and important feature of the New Work will be a 
Coloured Plate of each species. These will be reproduced in the 
best style from original drawings specially executed for the work 
by Miss Lilian Medland, F.Z.S., an accomplished and well- 
known bird artist. 
GURNEY & JACKSON 
33 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E.C. 
