PREFACE. 
The writer is aware that there are many ex- 
cellent bird books, but while most of these are 
of wider scope, either covering the broad field 
of general ornithology or dealing with the en- 
tire bird life of a large area of country, there 
are few which treat solely of the groups of spe- 
cial interest to sportsmen,—especially to the 
sportsmen of New England. This work is de- 
voted to the so-called ‘‘game birds,’’ and while 
the author’s intent has been to write of them 
to the man whose nature study has been con- 
ducted in the open and mostly over a gunbarrel, 
it is his hope that all lovers of the birds and the 
out-of-doors, and even the scientific ornitholo- 
gist as well, may find his page of interest and 
profit. 
Treating the subject from the standpoint of 
fair sportsmanship, the writer has endeavored 
to discountenance the reckless and needless 
slaughter. by those whose ambition it is to make 
a record killing, and he asks of the thoughtful 
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