PREFACE. - vii 
as would be required to attain the highest literary excellence ; 
but both manuscript and proof were critically read by Mrs. 
A. Drew, whose work has added much to the appearance of 
the volume, and whose suggestions have been very valuable. 
Mr. F. H. Fowler has placed the author under great obli- 
gations by doing a large amount of clerical work, and giv- 
ing much assistance in his official position as first clerk and 
librarian of the State Board of Agriculture. 
The scientific ornithological nomenclature is that of the 
American Ornithologists Union. The grouping of birds 
according to their habitats (as birds of woodland, etc.) is 
based more on their food habits than on their choice of 
nesting sites. This classification is of necessity arbitrary, 
and not always consistent, for it is sometimes influenced by 
other considerations, such as are evident in the inclusion of 
the Whip-poor-will among birds of the air. 
The nomenclature of plants is mainly that used by Britton 
and Brown in their Flora of the Northern United States, 
Canada, and the British Possessions, except in some cases 
where Dr. Judd or other authors are quoted. That of insects 
has been derived from various sources at different times, 
and for this reason some of the scientific names are not the 
latest. 
In the original plan of the report no descriptions of species 
were included; but the suggestion was made by Mr. J. A. 
Farley that it would be useless to descant to a man on the 
usefulness of the Chickadee if he did not know the bird. 
The brief, untechnical descriptions of bird, nest, eggs, and 
bird notes, and the illustrations of the species, are all in- 
tended as helps to identification. The descriptions of birds 
are calculated merely to call attention to the principal colors 
and marks that serve to identify birds afield. Brief descrip- 
tions of haunts, habits, and manners are also given, as guides 
to identity. 
A species that is found throughout the year within the 
limits of the State is denominated a resident. No attempts 
have been made to give fixed dates of arrival and departure, 
for these vary somewhat in different parts of the State, as 
