Preface to the Fourth Edition. 



Little need be said here of a book which in five years, 

 and without any commercial advertising, has passed through 

 several editions and is still in demand. This of itself is 

 sufficient evidence that it has filled a want, and has done 

 something to stimulate an interest in the utility of birds 

 and the means for their protection. In revising the work 

 for the fourth edition very few errors of statement have been 

 found, but the nomenclature has been brought nearly 

 abreast of present standards, and certain statistical state- 

 ments have been modified to bring them down to date. 



The names of birds have been made to conform with those 

 given in the check list of the American Ornithologists Union, 

 third edition, revised and published in 1910; the insect 

 names have been revised and corrected by Messrs. W. S. 

 Eegan and A. I. Bourne, and those of plants have been 

 made to correspond with the nomenclature of the seventh 

 edition of Gray's Botany, published in 1908. 



Some new information regarding nesting boxes and other 

 European means of attracting birds is given in an appendix, 

 which contains, also, a list of plants which bear fruit that is 

 attractive to birds, giving the seasons in which the fruit is 

 available. 



As the first edition was electrotyped, changes are expen- 

 sive, and as no special appropriation was made for this 

 edition, it was impossible to include much new matter in 

 the text or to use many new illustrations. If the demand 

 for the work continues, it may be advisable at some future 

 time to reset the type, and to add much more information, 

 which has been obtained since the first edition was pub- 

 lished. 



EDWARD HOWE FORBUSH. 



Boston, Mass., June 2, 1913. 



