Introduction. 



sullen discontent that is characteristic of so many 

 English cage -birds. Then also, as a rule, the foreign 

 species are much more conspicuous for brilliancy of 

 colouring, and even for elegance of form, than the 

 birds that adorn our fields and hedgerows, or hide 

 themselves as much as possible from human obser- 

 vation in our woods and plantations. So, without 

 entirely deprecating the keeping of native birds in 

 confinement, I am decidedly of opinion that the 

 acclimatisation of foreign species will be, on the 

 whole, a greater source of gratification to the aviarist ; 

 and in the end he will also find that his hobby will 

 cost him less than if he "went in" for keeping a 

 collection of our British birds. 



A word more, before I close these introductory 

 remarks, as to the system, or rather want of system, 

 that will necessarily characterise these pages. Scien- 

 tific classification is out of the question where only 

 a selection of species is reviewed ; therefore I have 

 determined to take the various groups in alphabetical 

 order which will, pertiaps, be as convenient a method 

 for those who may read these pages as any that I 

 could adopt. 



The scientific names given are in nearly all cases 

 those used by the Zoological Society of London in 

 their list of vertrebrated animals, although I do not in 

 every instance agree with its absolute correctness, and, 

 in the matter of classification, differ with the Society 

 in many instances. 



As prices vary so much according to circumstances, 

 it has not been thought desirable to quote any in 

 the following pages. 



B 2 



