HOW TO NAME THE BIRDS 3 



basis of our present classification. Standing quite apart, 

 and in every aspect perfectly distinct from all other 

 species, are the birds of prey — eagles, hawks (and allies), 

 and owls — forming a fifth group at the end of the book. 



The first four groups are subgrouped according to 

 color. Two very common and striking colors in birds 

 are black and yellow, which afford the basis of a fivefold 

 color-grouping — neutral (with no strong tint), black 

 (without yellow), yellow (without black), black and yel- 

 low, and the remainder forming the blue or red list. 

 The larger color-groups are further subdivided, ac- 

 cording to conspicuous diff'erences, so that the ultimate 

 groups contain only from two to ten species, generally 

 about six, in which to find the given specimen. The 

 species of each ultimate group are arranged according 

 to size. 



To enable the student to glance quickly through a 

 number of species, their description is arranged as fol- 

 lows : Below the name of the species is its summarized 

 description in two parts, separated by a dash, the first 

 describing the prevailing appearance of the upper side 

 of the bird (with or without wings and tail, which are 

 commonly darker), the second, that of the lower side, 

 primarily throat, breast, and sides, which are most con- 

 spicuous. This summary is to be regarded as the pre- 

 cise description of the entire bird, except as modified by 

 further details. If two terms are used in either part of 

 the summary (except ''streaked" or ''spotted"), the 

 first applies to the fore-part of the respective side. If 



