PREFACE 



The author makes no claim that this book is a com- 

 plete treatise on all the birds of a given locality. Only 

 those with which he has come in photographic contact 

 in their natural feeding and breeding haunts are con- 

 sidered. 



Personal observations and conclusions of the author, 

 while making these pictures, are the basis of the sub- 

 ject matter. Many of the photographs have been taken 

 under trying circumstances, almost insurmountable diffi- 

 culties and discouraging outlooks. This has been the 

 experience of all bird photographers. Those who have 

 preceded me in this work have covered the field thor- 

 oughly and have left very little new to discuss. 



The work of the many world-renowned ornithol- 

 ogists, Audubon, Coues, Wilson, Chapman, Eeed, Job 

 and others, has blazed the way and made the labors of 

 those who follow less arduous ; but no thoroughfare was 

 ever traveled without presenting some new phase worth 

 recording by the late arrival. 



The author hopes that the lay reader will find much 

 of interest in this book of birds, as it deals largely with 

 that phase of bird life observed about their homes. The 

 writer trusts that the technical ornithologist, he who 

 by his untiring efforts has elevated this subject to its 

 present high standard, will find in some of the author *s 

 personal observations here recorded, points of value. 



The author has faithfully endeavored briefly to 

 record the behavior and personalities of the birds with 

 which he has come in contact. The scientific nomen- 

 clature has been gleaned by reading and copying from 

 the books of recognized authorities at command. 



For various courtesies and valuable assistance the 

 writer is under many obligations to: T. Gilbert Pear- 

 son, President, National Association of Audubon So- 

 cities; E. W. Nelson, Chief of Bureau of Biological 



