An Explanatory Note 



Editor Warbler: — 



Prof. Lynds- Jones, Editor of the Wilson Bulletin, published at Oberlin, 

 Ohio, has made the following announcement: 



" In the West, two bird books of great importance are in preparation " — (one of 

 these) " is being prepared by Rev. P. B. Peabody, now of Newcastle, Wyoming, upon 

 the Nestino- Habits of Our Birds. This book promises greatly to advance our know- 

 ledge of the birds, along these lines; where the author is well-known to be specially 

 strong." — ( Wilson Bulletin, No. Jj.) 



This statement, so generously yet so unexpectedly made by Mr. Jones, 

 makes it necessary that the Preparator of the projected book on the Nesting 

 Ways of North American Birds give a very brief summary of what is in- 

 tended in this work; what accomplished and what yet remains: The work 

 is to cover, exclusively, 'the domain of nesting habit for all North American 

 birds whose summer homes are north of the Rio Grande. (Nothing compre- 

 hensive has been said regarding colorations and dimensions of eggs; this el- 

 ement having been, already, quite sufficiently exploited, otherwhere.) Rela- 

 tions of location, site, period, and manner at and near nest have received 

 most careful attention. All valuable authentic sources have been ransacked, 

 for these data, except the formidable, and unindexed files of the Proceedings 

 of the Boston and Philadelphia Academies; the Ibis; and the writings of 

 Gundlach. These are yet to be exploited. Over and above these, the Pre- 

 parator has been able to secure the kindly co-operation of over thirty field 

 workers and advanced bird students; a large number of these being men of 

 national reputation. Out of the entire field covered by the A. O. U. Check 

 List, but about a hundred and twenty titles yet remain without authentic 

 data. 



P. B. P. 



