INTRO D UCTOR Y. 3 



concerning the doings of this bird or that, and 

 is eager to know the names and more about the 

 habits of species that have impressed themselves 

 upon his mind. This oft-repeated catechising has 

 resulted in the present volume. 



The two great things to be aimed at in a 

 work of this kind are ready means of identification 

 and judicial assignment of species to localities 

 where they are most characteristic. A man with 

 little or absolutely no knowledge of birds wants to 

 be able quickly to identify them as they come 

 before him ; and before going for his ramble it is 

 therefore always best to learn what species are 

 likely to be found to gain some knowledge of 

 their notes and appearance which will make the 

 task of determining them a mere rehearsal of 

 what he has already committed to memory. To 

 obtain this necessary information means wading 

 through entire volumes, and even then it will be 

 of little practical service. The following chapters 

 furnish the required knowledge. I have divided 

 my pages into eleven rambles, which embrace 

 every kind of scenery from the mountain-top to 

 the rock-bound coast or sandy shore ; from the 

 bare moors to the deep shady woods ; from the 

 fields and downs to the gardens and shrubberies ; 

 from the homesteads and highways to the hedge- 

 rows and the rocks ; from mountain pools and 

 streams to lowland Broads and lakes. 



Here, among these diversified haunts, all the 

 wild birds of our country may be met with (the 

 rare and accidental visitors, of course, being 

 omitted) ; but in studying these birds the observer 

 must always bear in mind the following facts. 

 Birds are constantly changing their ground, and 



B 2 



