PREFACE. 



The papers which have appeared in the pages of the 

 volume now completed do not lose, we venture to think, 

 by comparison with the contents of Volume I. ; while 

 the increase in the number of contributors may be taken, 

 not only as an indication that British Birds justifies its 

 existence, but no less as a sign that the study of our 

 native avifauna is being pursued in a wider, and yet 

 more thorough fashion than heretofore. 



In the excellent series of articles on " Early British 

 Ornithologists and their Works," we have been given a 

 glimpse into the past, for which our readers will, we feel 

 sure, join us in thanking Mr. W. H. Mullens, who has 

 taken infinite pains to give accurate, as well as interesting 

 information. 



The investigation into the causes and spread of Wood- 

 Pigeon Diphtheria, which we commenced in our first 

 volume, has been advanced a stage further, and though 

 the subject bristles with difficulties, we intend, with 

 Dr. C. B. Ticehurst's aid, to pursue the enquiry. 



The valuable articles and notes on the habits, and 

 especially the nesting habits of birds, have been a feature 

 of the volume, and special mention may be made of 

 Mr. Noble's paper on the Ducks, and the interesting 

 correspondence arising therefrom. The study of nestling 

 birds, hitherto so strangely neglected, has in this volume 

 made material progress, thanks to the work of Dr. C. B. 

 Ticehurst and Miss A. Jackson, and we hope for more 

 contributions on this subject. 



Of the manner of the distribution, and the nesting 

 areas of our summer migrants, our knowledge is meagre, 

 and the Messrs. Alexanders' valuable paper illustrating 



