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INTRODUCTION. 



The collection this Guide is intended to accompany has been 

 formed especially to aid students in identifying the birds found in 

 the vicinity of New York City. It occupies Cases S and T, in 

 the north wing, at the southwest corner of the gallery devoted 

 to North American birds. With a few exceptions all the speci- 

 mens contained in it were collected within 50 miles of New York 

 City. The species which we have as yet been unable to secure 

 within these limits are represented temporarily by specimens from 

 the North American collection. The collection of Water Birds is 

 for the present restricted to summer resident species. So large a 

 proportion of North American Water Birds are found near New 

 York City, that a local collection of them would to a great extent 

 duplicate the North American collection displayed on the opposite 

 side of the gallery. Species of accidental occurrence, or those 

 which have been found in this vicinity but once or twice, are also 

 excluded from the collection. Their presence would only tend 

 to confuse the student and be apt to give him an erroneous idea 

 of the bird's range. 



The birds are labeled in accordance with the system of 

 nomenclature adopted by the American Ornithologists' Union. 

 The number preceding the name of each species is its permanent 

 number in the Union's 'Check-List' of North American birds. 

 In the Guide this number follows the name of the species. The 

 birds are placed in the cases in a continuous numerical series and 

 any desired specimen may thus be readily found by its number. 

 As a matter of local interest an asterisk (*) has been placed before 

 those species which have been observed in Central Park. 



In the alcove between Cases B and C, in the main bird-hall, will 

 be found a local collection of the nests and eggs of the birds 



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