INTRODUCTION 



THIS book has been written and compiled to enable 

 the reader to know our feathered friends on sight. 



Those who have made a study of birds can, by the 

 exercise of trained observation, recognise them by their 

 distinctive habits, language or peculiarity of flight. 

 For the uninitiated, however, a simple and practical 

 means of immediate identification is required. After 

 careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion 

 that the most satisfactory plan of arrangement is : 



First, to group the birds under their main habitats, 

 as follows : 



I. Birds of the gardens, orchards and cultivated 



districts. 



ii. Birds of the woods and well-wooded districts, 

 in. Birds of the commons, downs, moorland and 



mountainous districts, 

 iv. Birds of the streams, rivers, lakes and marshy 



districts, 

 v. Birds of the sea, seashore and cliffs. 



Secondly, sub-divide these groups under : 



(A) Colour. 



(B) Size. 



By this simple scheme it will be an easy matter for 

 the observer to identify birds seen in the garden or in 

 the course of a country walk. Naturally there are 

 exceptions to the general scheme (woodland birds may 

 occasionally visit gardens, for instance), but such cases 

 are obvious in themselves, and do not affect the general 

 arrangement. 



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