PREFACE. 



THE drawings of British Birds which appear in this 

 work were originally published in the Newcastle 

 Weekly Chronicle, extending over a period of nearly 

 ten years. Numerous correspondents of that paper 

 expressed the wish that, when the series was com- 

 pleted, the drawings, with descriptions of the birds, 

 should be published in book form. It is mainly in 

 response to repeated suggestions of this kind that 

 the present work is offered to the public. 



The birds were drawn with the view of giving 

 students of nature a strictly accurate representation 

 of each specimen, with as much detail as was con- 

 sidered necessary for identification. Although every 

 endeavour has been made to indicate the various 

 markings of the feathers, bill, feet, etc., I venture to 

 think that in no instance have I sacrificed artistic 

 completeness for mere elaboration. 



The classification is based on a simple plan, and 

 I hope that the general reader will appreciate the 

 system adopted. The explanatory notes that accom- 

 pany each drawing are brief, but nothing material 



