VI PREFACE. 



and accurately written by Mr. Gosse, in his ' Popular British 

 Ornithology/ which forms one of the^present series of works; 

 and those who wish to pursue the subject more at length, 

 would find valuable assistance in the first four volumes of 

 the 'Naturalist's Library/ written by Sir William Jardine, 

 or in the more costly, but very beautiful, volumes of Mr. 

 Hewitson and Mr. Yarrell. 



In preparing the illustrations, no pains have been spared : 

 they are all taken from original drawings, made from speci- 

 mens of the eggs and nests of our British birds; and the 

 exact measurements of the eggs copied, both in length and 

 breadth, have been preserved with only one exception, that 

 of the Golden Eagle, which we believe to be scarcely less 

 accurate, notwithstanding the omission ; but it should be 

 understood, that the eggs of different birds of any species 

 will vary from each other to a greater or less degree in size, 

 form, colour, and markings; yet not so greatly as they 

 generally differ from those of other species, nor to such an 

 extent but that the practised eye of a naturalist can usually 

 determine to what species they belong. 



