PHEFACE 



On the completion of this first bundle of Stray Feathers, in 

 other words of Vol. 1., the Editor feels bound to acknowledg-e 

 most g-ratefully, the cordial support that, during- the past year, 

 he has met with from Indian Ornithologists. 



When Buffon wrote his Natural History of Birds^ he congra- 

 tulated himself on a knowledge of nearly 900 species, and esti- 

 mated that the world miff/ii contain 1,500 species altogether, a 

 number, so vast, that it seemed impossible to him, that they 

 should ever be properly dealt with in one work. 



■ The Avifauna of India and its Dependencies, already includes 

 nearly 1,600 species, and it has always appeared to me impossi- 

 ble that so vast a fauna should be adequately dealt with, until it 

 possessed a special local organ of its own, in which the observa- 

 tions and discoveries of professed ornithologists, working on the 

 spot amongst the living birds, could \)q. promptly and convenient- 

 ly recorded, in which only matters bearing on our great work 

 out here sliould find a place, and which by being, so to say, always 

 at hand, and humble in its scope, should tempt the innumerable 

 " bird-fanciers," who will not call themselves, (though they often 

 truly are) ornithologists, because their acquaintance with scientific 

 nomenclature is sinall, to put on record some of the multitu- 

 dinous facts in regard to the distribution and habits of birds that, 

 as travellers and sportsmen, are daily brought to their notice. 



It was to supply such a special local organ, that our little 

 Magazine was called into existence, and, so far as professed orni- 

 thologists are concerned, it has succeeded beyond the expectations 

 and deserts of its Editor. 



But, where the " bird-fanciers" are concerned, it has been, 

 in great measure, a failure. There are hundreds of sportsmen 

 in India, who could tell us facts about the nidification, habits, 

 migrations, distribution, &c., of species of which we know little, 

 and what I would urge upon all my kind coadjutors is, each in 

 his own circle of friends, to endeavour to stir observant Sports- 

 men up, to add, each, their quota of knowledge to the general 

 stock. 



If would-be contributors have doubts as to the names of birds, 

 in regard to which they have observations to record, let them 

 send me skins (the veriest rags, will in most cases sufiice) and 

 I will with pleasure identify and return them. 



Specially, in the matter of nidification and eggs are we in want 

 of additional information ; what is already on record on this 

 subject, so far as I am acquainted with it, and what I have been 



