VI 



Preface 



A work of the present scope is of necessity very largely a compilation, but I 

 have sought in every instance to give the latest and most authentic information 

 regarding the distribution and life history of the forms treated. That I have 

 succeeded in all cases is too much to expect, for the literature of ornithology is 

 now so very extensive and widely scattered that it is inevitable some things have 

 been overlooked, though it is hoped that important omissions and errors are 

 few. Among the hundreds of books, papers, and journals consulted, special 

 mention should be made of Sharpe's " Hand-List of Birds," the " Catalogue of 

 Birds in the British Museum," Newton's Dictionary of Birds, Dr. Stejneger's 

 volume on Birds in the Standard Natural History, and Ridgway's " Birds of 

 North and Middle America," without which it would have been impossible 

 to write this book. 



In the matter of direct quotations from other authors, which have been freely 

 made, the authority for the statement has been given, either in the introductory 

 sentence or at its termination, but it has not been thought necessary in a popular 

 work of this character to give in all cases the complete bibliographic citation. 

 The professional ornithologist will be able, in most cases, to identify the publi- 

 cation should further consultation be desired; w r hile the general reader, it was 

 assumed, would hardly be interested in anything but the statement of fact. 

 In order to facilitate the ready finding of the various forms mentioned in the text, 

 a very complete index has been prepared, which includes not only all specific, 

 generic, and higher group names, but every common name made use of. To 

 further facilitate the location of the birds referred to, all common or popular names 

 of birds have been capitalized and given first place, with the scientific names 

 following in parentheses. The black-face headings at the beginning of each 

 paragraph also serve to direct attention to any species sought. 



The chapter on the " Migration of Birds," in nearly its present form, appeared 

 in the Popular Science Monthly, and is incorporated here with the permission 

 of the editor of that journal. 



The selection of the illustrations for this book has given the author much 

 concern. To keep the book light, it is essential to avoid as far as practicable 

 the use of the coated paper needed for half-tones. This necessitated securing 

 for the text, wood and line cuts from miscellaneous sources not always equally 

 modern or artistic. While a freer use of half-tones would have permitted the 

 utilization of more modern photographs, it would have made the book almost 

 fatally heavy; but it is hoped that the figures finally selected may serve the 

 purpose of conveying a fair idea of the forms depicted. 



In the preparation of the originals of the colored plates, the author has 

 been fortunate in securing the services of the talented artist, Miss Mary Mason 

 Mitchell of Washington. Not only are the birds themselves accurately and 

 artistically portrayed, but the setting for each has been worked out with a minute- 

 ness and correctness of detail rarely exhibited. 



In the preparation of this work I have received the greatest assistance from 

 Dr. Charles W. Richmond, Acting Curator of Birds in the United States National 

 Museum, who has not only read all of the manuscript and proofs, and suggested 



