PREFACE. 



The completion of this fifth volume leaves the Editor with 

 little or nothing to say to his readers by way of Preface. 



The yearly reiteration of gratitude for kindly and generous 

 support, which the Editor's other, and primary, duties preclude 

 his ever fully meriting, becomes monotonous. 



The hopes that he once entertained, and sanguinely expressed, 

 of being able hereafter to make his journal more worthy of 

 that support, have gradually faded into dream-land. He beo-in s 

 to realize that in this cold practical world, mansions are not 

 built without hands, and that, with the utmost efforts on his 

 part, a journal like the present cannot be made even to approxi- 

 mate to what it should be, whilst its Editor and Chief Contributor 

 can devote to it only occasional moments, and almost the whole 

 of his time and thoughts are absorbed by other and more im- 

 portant matters. 



People who think poorly and write slightingly of Stray 

 Feathers, have the Editor's entire sympathy. No one probably 

 realizes all its shortcomings so acutely as himself, or appreciates 

 more thoroughly what it ought to be, and might perhaps become 

 if only the Editor could find time to attend to it, as it should be 

 attended to. 



All he can say for it is, that, despite its patent feebleness, it 

 is yet gradually bringing on record a mass of facts, specially in 

 regard to the distribution of species, that will greatly facilitate 

 hereafter the labours of others, and pave the way to some extent 

 for that more fortunate individual to whom fate may concede 

 the happy task (which the Editor now despairs of being ever 

 able to accomplish) of writing a complete History of the Birds 

 of our Indian Empire. 



ALLAN HUME. 



December 1st, 1877. 



