PREFACE 5 



the value and the interest of the book. The line under each 

 cut represents an inch, and can be used in measuring the 

 various parts. Its main purpose, however, is to show the 

 scale of the drawing. If the line is half an inch long, it 

 indicates that the illustration is one half as large as the 

 living bird; if the line is but one tenth inch, the scale is 

 but one tenth ; etc. 



The map on page 41 shows the territory covered by the 

 birds described in this book. Because of the migration of 

 birds, a book describing all the species of a given section 

 necessarily includes nearly all those of regions extending 

 hundreds of miles beyond. Hence the ground covered by 

 this book practically extends to Ontario, Quebec, etc. 



In nomenclature and classification, the " Check List of 

 North American Birds," by the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, has been followed without any change, except a re- 

 versal of the order of the families, the higher classes of 

 birds being placed first. The numbers with the scientific 

 names in parenthesis are in accordance with those in the 

 Check List. These numbers will be found useful in com- 

 paring the descriptions with those in other books where the 

 same classification is followed ; also in labeling specimens 

 of eggs, nests, or birds, without writing the full names. 

 The common name at the beginning of each description is 

 the one given in the Check List ; the names at the end in 

 parenthesis are others in popular use. 



Scientific names are marked to indicate the pronunciation. 

 The vowel of the accented syllable is marked with the grave 

 accent ( ^ ) if long, and with the acute ( ' ) if short. 



Through the kindness of the authorities of the Academy 

 of Natural Sciences, of Philadelphia, and of the American 



