4 British Birds ' not only an authority in natural history, but also, what it 

 was apparently designed to be, an eminently readable book. The sweet 

 breath of Nature comes to us from every page. Open the volumes where 

 we may, we are refreshed with a glimpse of uncontaminated country 

 >; Of lake or mountain, wood, or murmuring sea.'' 



" The eye delights to rest on the coloured engravings of the birds as 

 they pass before it in rapid and ever- varying succession. Nay, without 

 opening the volumes, the pictures in gold, stamped on tiie green binding, 

 give ample promise of the rich variety inside, and seem to invite you to 

 look within. On one volume you see ' woodpeckers tapping the hollow 

 beech tree ; ' on another, water-ouzels preparing to dip into the cool 

 stream ; on a third, a heron waiting silently and solemnly until a fish 

 dimples the smooth pool ; on a fourth, wild- ducks floating on a reedy 

 lake ; on a fifth, guillemots resting on the edge of a cliff and meditating 

 a plunge into the sea. Then on turning from the pictures to the letter- 

 press you have at once a complete history of every bird that inhabits or 

 visits this country, and a collection of anecdotes from all sources to illus- 

 trate and enliven the scientific description. Natural history is necessarily 

 a log-book of observed facts an aggregation of details which have come 

 under the notice of hundreds of quick and loving eyes. One man can 

 add comparatively little to the stock from his own observation, though 

 every one may bring something if he has a mind willing to record the 

 facts which his eyes have seen, and that naturalist may be said to have 

 deserved best of the general public who presents the greatest number of 

 these interesting facts to the common store. One recommendation of the 

 study of Natural History in general, or of Ornithology in particular, is 

 that the youngest beginner may have the good fortune to observe some 

 trait, some phrase of Nature's face, which has escaped the notice of the 

 experienced Naturalist, and to excite some such love in the minds of all 

 his readers, young and old, seems to have been the object Mr. Morris had in 

 view when compiling his book, which is given to the public as the result 

 of long years of patient research and painstaking study. His idea will be 

 manifest by a quotation of a portion of the preface to the first edition. 



" ' My object has been, first, to collect together, as far as I could, all 

 1 the known facts respecting the natural history of each and every British 

 ' bird, so that my work might contain a greater number of such facts than 

 ' any previous one ; secondly, to produce at the same time a readable book: 

 'thirdly, to give correct and life-like figures of the several species ; and 

 ' fourthly, to bring out the work at such a price as to place it within the 

 ' reach of every class, whose taste might happily lead them to the study of 

 ' Natural History. I have endeavoured also to impart a religious character 

 ' to this treatise on some of the most interesting works of the Creator, as 

 ' indicated from the very first page by the motto, Gloria in cxcclsis Deo, 

 1 prefixed to the account of the k birds of the air,' and subsequently by the 

 'kindred one DC j>rofnndls ad Dominum attached in like manner to that 

 ' of water birds, whose home is more or less on the ' great deep.' 



4i Many passages in the book might be marked to show the author's 

 genuine love of Nature, his powers of description and illustration, and the 

 reverential spirit with which he imbues the study of Natural History, did 

 space allow of such quotation. It will be sufficient to say that the Rev. 

 F. 0. Morris's ' British Birds ' is a book worthy of every recommendation. 

 It will be alike an acquisition to the study and an ornament to the 

 drawing room. It will delight both old and young. The early possession 

 of such a work might well instil a love of Natural History into the mind 

 of the youthful reader, and thus supply a life long interest, a never-failing 

 resource, and an elevating pursuit, which may lead many 



" 'To look through Nature, up to Nature's God.' " MORNING POST. 



LONDON : GEORGE BELL AND SON, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 



