X PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. 



nion, and that of many others, I should have been guilty of 

 serious omission, had I included only the species which demand 

 little care and patience on the part of the amateur ; and with 

 respect to the particular birds cited, I know several persons 

 who take great pleasure in allowing one or more Wrens the 

 free range of their rooms. I must, also, be allowed to express 

 my conviction, that in a work like this, it is hardly possible to 

 err on the side of superfluity. In the present edition, also, the 

 reader will find accounts of various foreign species, which may 

 be procured from the bird-dealers. 



PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. 

 By the German Editor, DR. LEHMANN. 



THE Publishers of this new edition of BECHSTEIN ON CAGE- 

 BIRDS, believe that an apology for reproducing a work so in- 

 dispensable to the amateur, and so valuable to the scientific 

 naturalist, is hardly necessary. The constant inquiries for it, 

 during the lengthened interval in which it has been out of 

 print, are the surest proof that it has not been superseded by 

 any of the more recent works which have been produced upon 

 the same subject. 



The changes in the present edition are confined to a few 

 emendations ; the omission of much which time and experience 

 had demonstrated to be superfluous ; and a considerable addi- 

 tion to the section upon Bird-catching. It was my own opinion, 

 as well as that of several competent judges whose advice has 

 been asked, that the form of the work did not require to be 

 re-cast, and that it was due to the memory of an author, so 

 much respected, both as a naturalist and in private life, to give 

 his favourite work to the public as nearly as possible as he 

 left it. In no other way could be assured to the work the ad- 

 vantages derived from the Author's engaging style, which has 

 already so materially contributed to the acceptance it has found 

 with the public. 



HAMBURG, April, 1840. 



