PREFACE. 



THE chief aim of the writer of this little volume has 

 been to accurately record his own experience and 

 observations in the life history of the eight species 

 of birds described in its pages. 



The information presented to the reader has been 

 with few exceptions the result of many hours of 

 patient watching and waiting on the part of the 

 writer. The scenes of his observations have been 

 found in that bird-lover's paradise the New Forest, 

 and also in various parts of the British Isles. 



As regards the illustrations, the eight full-page 

 plates have been reproduced from photographs of 

 his cases ; while the smaller illustrations in the text 

 have been specially drawn from his specimens. 

 Some of the papers have appeared from time to 

 time in Knowledge, but they have since been 

 re-written; while two have appeared in Science 

 Gossip. 



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