OF 
^SIPS7'±tlx Text. 
THOMAS 0-. OEISTTIE^^, 
Adthor of “Life-Histories of Birds op Eastern Pennsylvania’’ and of “The House Sparrow,” Member of the 
“Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences,” the “Nuttall Ornithological Club,” the 
“Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences,” the “Franklin Scientific 
Society of the University of Pennsylvania,” etc., etc. 
ILLUSTRATED BY ELEGANTLY COLORED LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, 
AND HORTKAIT OF THE AUTHOR. 
Whilst several beautifully illustrated books on the birds of our country Lave been presented to the public from time 
to time, it is much to be regretted that no regular work, containing proper delineations of nests and eggs, had made its 
appearance, excepting a large folio of high price. 
When we consider the inconvenient size of the latter work, the exorbitant price demanded for it ($5 per part), and 
the interest manifested by the youth of our land in that highly attractive department of Ornithology of which it treats, 
we are led to believe that there is yet room for another, which shall be none the less true to nature, but which shall have, 
in addition to accuracy, the important quality of cheapness. With this object in view, we have embarked in the enter- 
prise, hoping that our ornithological friends and others will give it ample encouragement. 
This work will be something more than a mere book of nests and eggs. It w’ill endeavor to bring into prominence 
those interesting and curious phases of bird-life which are present during the breeding-period, and which have been the 
principal study of the author for the past ten years. The text, therefore, will mainly be the result of his own observa- 
tions and research. 
CONDITIONS OF PUBLICATION. 
The work will be issued in quarto monthly parts, and sold only by subscription. Each part will be printed on heavy 
super-calendered plate paper, and will contain TWO magnificent chromo-lithographic plates, prepared at great pains 
and expense, and from eight to twelve pages of text. One of the parts will contain a fine Cliromo Portrait of the 
Author, without extra charge. The price will be ONE DOLLAR per part, and in no case w'ill subscriptions be received 
for less than the entire work. 
The work will not exceed TWENTY-FIVE PARTS. The design of the author is to figure the typical nests of our 
species, and the most marked variations therefrom, where this can be conveniently done. . 
J. A. WAGENSELLER, Publisher, 
No. 23 NORTH SIXTH Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
