PREFACE 



THE very kindly reception by the press, and a steady public 

 appreciation, have led to this endeavour to make my little 

 book more complete, by preparing an Enlarged Edition, 

 including all British-breeding birds that have now any 

 reasonable claim for treatment. The work deals with a 

 number of more or less familiar winter visitors that do 

 not stay to breed with us ; however, this is perhaps an 

 advantage nowadays, when we all travel much and far. 



As mentioned in the preface to the first Edition, this 

 book is not intended to encourage the useless collecting 

 of birds' eggs from a mere bric-a-brac motive, but to aid 

 the youthful naturalist in the study of one of the most 

 interesting phases of bird life. It is to be hoped that the 

 Act of Parliament empowering County Councils to protect 

 either the eggs of certain birds, or those of all birds 

 breeding within a given area, will be of great benefit to 

 many of our feathered friends. 



Besides a pretty extensive experience, I have, in the 

 preparation of this work, sought the aid of such excellent 

 authorities as Yarrel (fourth Edition), Seebohm, Dixon, 

 and others, to all of whom I gratefully acknowledge my 

 indebtedness. 



R. KEARTON. 



BOREHAM WOOD, ELSTREE, HERTS, 

 1896. 



M85572 



