

PREFACE. 



The sites given for the nest are those most commonly re- 

 sorted to, and the particulars of the materials employed for the 

 construction of the nest are those generally used ; but many 

 birds are adaptive, and it is no uncommon occurrence to find 

 nests built in curious situations, and made with exceptional 

 materials. 



Finally, the eggs are briefly treated ; the proper number in 

 a clutch, and the usual type as regards colouring, markings, 

 and shape, being described. 



As regards the nests and eggs of birds, a fuller description 

 will be found in ' Birdsnesting and Bird-skinning,' by the late 

 Edward Newman, and revised by Miller Christy, a capital little 

 pocket-book for field-work, containing, as it does, in addition 

 to the information about nests and eggs, chapters on egg- 

 collecting and bird-skinning. Provided with this and the 

 ' Pocket-book of British Birds,' both the same size and com- 

 fortably carried in the pocket, and " armed " with no more 

 terrible or destructive weapons than a field-glass, a note-book, 

 and a pencil, and, in the case of a conscientious collector, a 

 vasculum or collecting tin, the observer will be enabled to 

 recognize and identify the birds encountered during the course 

 of many a pleasant ramble, and thus add greatly to his en- 

 joyment of the country. 



In conclusion, I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to 

 the following works, from which I have obtained much useful 

 information in compiling this little ' Pocket-Book ' : 



Howard Saunders's * Manual of British Birds.' 

 Dr. A. G. Butler's * British Birds, their Nests and Eggs.' 

 W. H. Hudson's 'British Birds.' 

 C. A. Witchell's ' Cries and Call-notes of Wild Birds.' 

 David T. Price's * A Ready Aid to distinguish British Wild 

 Birds.' 



