INTRODUCTION. 



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The purpose of this brief descriptive list of the birds in the exhibit 

 of the State Board of Agriculture, is to enable all who are interested 

 in the bird-life of our state to use this collection to the very best ad- 

 vantage. 



The birds have been collected, mounted, and placed on exhibition 

 in these rooms, and should be prized by those who have opportunity to 

 study them. Few states have better collections. By additions, which 

 we hope to make from time to time, the list will soon be complete, 

 representing all the species and sub-species of birds that are found in 

 West Virginia. 



The total list of birds, which the writer has compiled, includes 

 about two hundred and fifty species that have been found by himself 

 and other bird students within the borders of the state. There is no 

 doubt that, after some years of observation, our list of West Virginia 

 birds may include as many as three hundred species and sub-species. 

 If this collection of 331 specimens, representing 193 species and sub- 

 species of West Virginia birds, is used as it should be, it will be such 

 a help to those who seek to know more of the birds of our state that 

 many persons will soon become interested, will be on the lodk-out for 

 birds both common and rare, and will soon swell the list of our own 

 native birds to far more than 250. 



When any one is interested in any particular species in this col- 

 lection, and has a desire to know something of its distribution, nest- 

 ing, and food-habits, let him note the number on the bird, then find 

 the corresponding number in the catalogue. With that number will 

 be found a brief note on the bird and its habits. If further informa- 

 tion be desired, let him take some good book on birds, like Chapman's 

 "Hand-book of Birds" (D. Appleton and Co., Xew York City), and, 

 under the same number, he will find a full description of the species 

 under study. For instance, the number attached to the pair of Cardi- 

 nals, or Eed Birds, in the collection is 593. By turning to number 

 593 in the catalogue, a brief description of th distribution, nesting 

 habits and food-habits of this beautiful bird may be found. Then, 

 by turning to the same number (593) in any good book on birds, 



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