Preface. 



THE systematic study of the economic value of birds in 

 their relation to agriculture has been carried out in 

 Hungary of late years more indefatigably than in most 

 other parts of Europe. The natural resources of the 

 country are indeed so largely dependent on agriculture 

 that this is only what might have been expected. 



The Royal Hungarian Minister, M. Daranyi, who 

 has proved himself so thorough and so capable a 

 Director of his country's interests in the direction of 

 'Agriculture amongst other handbooks issued under 

 his orders for popular use commissioned the well- 

 known naturalist, M. Otto Herman, to prepare the 

 present work, which is intended to give to landowners, 

 farmers, fruit-growers and gardeners such a knowledge 

 of the action, beneficial and otherwise, of birds as would 

 prevent the mistakes which have ended in some districts 

 in our own country, in the wholesale destruction of some 

 very useful species. 



