viii PEEFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



different from that required for the work of even a warm corner in some highly 

 preserved cover. Then there is the charm of uncertain expectancy which is the 

 shore-shooter's and wildfowler's own the delicious feeling of never knowing 

 what the next shot may be, as fen and marsh are traversed. Away from the 

 mere pleasure of killing, which, alas, seems inherent in male human nature, there 

 is the greater pleasure of watching the ways of the wary Fowl, of studying their 

 habits and economy. Sportsmen have it in their power to render incalculable 

 service to Natural History, if they are only put in the way of making observations. 

 No better proof of this is furnished than that of the army of Indian sportsmen, 

 who, encouraged and directed by that great ornithologist and sportsman, Allan 

 Hume, have done so much for the Ornithology of our Eastern Empire, and set 

 an example to sportsmen at home which might be followed with inestimable 

 profit to British Ornithology. By their aid the magnificent and unrivalled 

 collection of Indian birds was formed, which now, thanks to the noble generosity 

 of Mr. Hume, forms a part of our National Collection at South Kensington. 



Should the present volume be the means of creating a taste for observation 

 among those sportsmen who have hitherto been neglectful of the scientific side 

 of their pursuit, to the advantage of Natural History, or prove of some help to the 

 naturalist in his studies of this important and interesting group of birds, the 

 labour involved in writing it will ever be recalled with pleasure. 



I desire also to place on record my great appreciation of the work of my 

 contemporaries, and my sincere thanks for the profit of their experience ; also to 

 acknowledge my gratitude to many friends for valued information. My thanks 

 are specially due to my old friend Mr. F. H. Waterhouse, the courteous Librarian 

 to the Zoological Society of London, whose bibliographical assistance from time 

 to time has been invaluable. 



CHARLES DIXON. 

 January, 1893. 



