PREFACE. vil 
_ An Appendix 1s subjoined, in which a notice will be found of 
the habits of nidification, the nests and eggs of several birds, 
; which though regular inhabitants of Britain or some part of it, 
for a given portion of cach year, still retire to foreign and distant 
localities for the purposes of nest-making and rearing their 
young. 
Finally, an attempt has been made to exhibit at one glance, 
and in avery condensed and systematic form, as much information 
as possible touching the nest, its customary site and materials, 
and also the eggs, their number, colour, and markings, and any 
noteworthy breediag peculiarities of each separate British-breed- 
ing species. It is hoped this attempt, somewhat novel as it is, 
and almost mevitably imperfect as it must be in some respects, 
will not be regarded as altogether unacceptable by the youthful 
nest-hunter and egg-collector. 
The author has only to observe, in conclusion, that he has 
scarcely thought it necessary in the majority of instances to notice 
the common and well recognised fact that the particular species 
under notice, in common with many or most of our common 
British Birds, rears two broods, or even more, in the course of 
the summer. Neither has he thought it requisite to attempt to 
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