INTRODUCTION. O 



I wifl now add a few words of advice to beginners in biid 

 study such as I have been accustomed to give to pupils for 

 many years. The first and most important thing to observe 

 about a bird, aside from its size, is its form, including the 

 comparative size of all the parts. If the bird is singin-g or 

 uttering any other sounds, try and fix all these sounds in the 

 mind. Then note its color, including the distribution of spots 

 and position of all markings. Note all habits and where the 

 bird is, whether in a tree, bush, thicket, or on the ground. 

 If it starts, observe its flight. All observations should be re- 

 corded as soon as completed, and checked, if possible, by a 

 second observation. In identifying a species always keep in 

 mind the season of the year in which it should normally oc- 

 cur where seen, and the range of the species. 



While it is a fact that wonders are constantly occurring 

 in the bird world (and herein lies much of the charm of bird 

 study), and there is no good reason why some of the discov- 

 eries which are constantly being made, of species far from 

 their usual habitat, or out of season, should not fall to the lot 

 of even beginners, it will be well for all of us to exercise 

 caution in our observations upon such matters. In identify- 

 ing a supposed rare bird in the field, it will be well to keep in 

 mind the fact that two pairs of eyes are better than one, and 

 that it is best that one of these pairs should belong to some- 

 one who has had a rather wide experience in the study of 

 birds. 



I now offer this manual, so long promised, to my many 

 pupils, and all others interested in ornithology, trusting that 

 they will find herein some ideas which will prove useful to 

 them in their studies of the many beautiful and interest 

 ing birds with which we are surrounded. 



WEST NEWTON, MASS., Nov. 105. 



