viii PREFACE 



War Birds, for instance, being obtained in April, the Carolina Egrets 

 in May, the Saskatchewan Geese in June, and the Alberta Ptarmigan in 

 July, 1907. 



No ornithologist, I imagine, has ever pursued his calling with 

 greater pleasure and satisfaction than I have experienced in gathering 

 the material and data for these groups of birds. Not only has it been 

 my fortune to behold some of the most interesting and remarkable 

 sights in the world of birds, but it has been my privilege to have them 

 reproduced in so admirable a manner that they convey to others a 

 wholly adequate conception of the scene itself. 



I desire now further to perpetuate these experiences and studies by 

 telling the story of the various expeditions of which the groups were 

 the objects, adding such information concerning the birds observed as 

 seems worthy of record, and illustrating the whole with many photo- 

 graphs from nature and a number of the groups themselves. 



It is a pleasure to acknowledge here my indebtedness to the co-la- 

 borers who have been associated with me in this seven years' task; to 

 Mrs. Chapman, always my first field assistant, to Hermon C. Bumpus, 

 whose suggestions and advice have been invaluable, to Louis Agassiz 

 Fuertes, artist and tried camp-mate, to Carlos Hittell, Bruce Horsfall 

 and Hobart Nichols, artists, to J. D. Figgins, preparateur, to H. C. 

 Denslow, Herbert Lang, and E. W. Smith, taxidermists. Without the 

 cooperation of these efficient fellow workers the undertaking in which 

 this book has its origin, could not have been brought to a successful 

 conclusion. 



Several of the following chapters have appeared in "The Century," 

 "Scribner's," "Country Life in America," "Outing," and "Bird-Lore," 

 but the greater number have not before been published. 



., ,. FRANK M. CHAPMAN. 



American Museum of 



Natural History. 



