PEBFACB TO THE FIRST EDITION. vii 



and pregnant with importance, not only respecting the economy of British 

 species, but with the past history of all birds, much light having been thrown on 

 their affinities and origin. The classification of birds is still in a most unsatis- 

 factory state, although the great and ever-increasing attention that the subject is 

 receiving must ultimately result in some uniformity of opinion. At present no 

 two recognised authorities agree in their estimation of the taxonomic value of 

 respective characters. Among the latest systems elaborated may be mentioned 

 those of Dr. Sclater, Professor Newton, the late Mr. Forbes, the late Professor 

 Garrod, Dr. Eeichenow, Professor Coues, Dr. Stejneger, Mr. Seebohm, and last, 

 and perhaps most important of all, the great work of Professor Fiirbinger. 

 I have had an opportunity of studying each of these important avian classifica- 

 tions, and it is quite needless to remark the wide, nay almost hopeless and 

 bewildering divergence of opinion expressed by their talented authors and 

 compilers. Until some sort of uniformity of opinion is arrived at, the arrange- 

 ment of species in a work like the present appears to me to be a matter of little 

 importance ; for the classification of yesterday that you may adopt to-day is out of 

 date and antiquated to-morrow. The whole subject of classification, at present, 

 is in a violent state of eruption ; one would think that scientists had " lost their 

 heads." Fortunately the scope of the present volume calls for no elaborate 

 classification, and the species dealt with are units of fairly well-defined groups, 

 about which, as groups, systematists are on the whole pretty well agreed. 



The number of species and races of Game Birds and "Wild Fowl which may 

 fairly claim to be included in the British avi-f auna is 1 27. The majority of these do 

 not breed within our limits, but are either regular winter visitors, or accidental 

 stragglers on migration, of varying degrees of rarity, to the United Kingdom. 

 The British and foreign geographical area of each of these has been traced, and 

 the various allied forms noted, with their distribution and distinguishing charac- 

 teristics. The habits, notes, food, nest, and eggs have been described as fully as 

 space allowed, or as completely as our knowledge extends ; whilst the diagnostic 

 characters of each will enable the naturalist or sportsman readily to identify the 

 various British species, and are in my opinion infinitely preferable to long, 

 tedious, detailed descriptions of plumage. 



Little need be said of the sport that our British Game Birds and Wild Fowl 

 yield, or of the healthy invigorating recreation derived from the pursuit of that 

 sport. Field and covert shooting is not without its excitements and delights, 

 even in these degenerate days of breech-loaders and battues ; but, to my mind, 

 the cream of all gun sport is skimmed by the wildfowler and the shore-shooter. 

 There is a charm about the chase of Wild Fowl which no covert-shooting 

 can excel or equal ; for the incomparable skill demanded in punting up to the 

 flocks of wary Ducks and Geese, in stalking the shy Waders on the muds and 

 marshes, or in " getting on " to the fleeting Fowl with deadly effect as they 

 pass like arrows over your cold and lonely ambush during flight time, is very 



