PREFACE vii 



by far the greater number of British ornithologists and 

 English-speaking people ; and one result has been a flood 

 of theory, and incomplete and undigested material, instead 

 of a practical accumulation of facts. 



When the publisher wrote to Mr. Ga'tke in November 

 1893, not only was his hearty consent to the publication of 

 this translation given, but he also courteously supplied 

 whatever additions and corrections he deemed necessary to 

 make the book complete at the time of going to press, 

 and since that date he has revised the proof-sheets very 

 thoroughly, though his state of health unfortunately pre- 

 vented him from giving the first portion of the book the 

 careful reading he was able to bestow upon the remainder 

 of the volume. His additional corrections on these sheets, 

 received too late for insertion at their proper places, will 

 be found on page 589. 



On the recommendation of Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, the 

 services of Mr. Rudolph Rosenstock, M.A. Oxon., were 

 secured, and he has carried out the literal translation in 

 a very satisfactory manner. 



The nomenclature in the List of Birds adopted by Mr. 

 Giitke has been followed ; but wherever it differs from 

 the nomenclature recognised by British ornithologists, the 

 scientific name by which the bird is known in this country has 

 been added in a footnote. As in the introductory chapters 

 Mr. Gatke has used indiscriminately both the popular and 

 scientific names for many species, it has been thought 

 desirable, for the sake of uniformity, to give the English 

 names only for all the strictly British species ; and both 

 the English and the scientific names for all other British- 

 Palearctic birds. In enabling the publisher to prepare the 

 work for the printer, thanks in this respect are due to 



