INTRODUCTION. vii 
to fall back upon lessons in model drawing which I had 
received in early youth; and, as might be expected, from 
that time the plates gradually improved in appearance. 
The illustrations for this book were drawn entirely in 
the evenings, and chiefly in the colder months, when there 
were few outdoor attractions ; they consequently occupied me 
for about seven or eight years. Until they were completed 
no attempt was made to prepare the letterpress, except for 
the occasional jotting down of an interesting fact. 
Nearly the whole of my collecting having been done in 
Kent, and for the most part inland, there was little 
opportunity either of collecting eggs of many of the larger 
birds, or learning anything by personal experience respect- 
ing their nidification; it therefore became necessary to 
draw largely upon the experience of many excellent 
observers whose ornithological works were at my disposal. 
In the preparation of this Handbook I have been under 
great obligations to Mr. H. Dresser and Dr. Mason, who 
have both lent me many rare eggs for illustration, no less 
than forty-three having been from time to time entrusted 
to my care by the former gentleman. Mr. E. Bidwell, Mr. 
H. Druce, and Mr. H. Seebohm have lent me specimens 
and the last-mentioned gentleman has further greatly 
assisted me by the presentation of a copy of his most 
instructive ‘ History of British Birds.’ Not a few rare eggs 
have been given to me by the Hon. Walter de Rothschild, 
the Rev. W. Bree, of Coventry, and others, whilst Mr. 
J. E. Harting has rendered me much service by supplying 
numerous interesting notes on the various species. 
When collecting, I have been greatly assisted by many 
kind friends in Kent, amongst whom I wish specially to 
