PREFACE 



The object in the present volume has been to give 

 a brief description of such birds of the world as are 

 usually to be seen in zoological collections and in 

 museums, together with some of the most significant 

 and striking facts in their life-histories. To include 

 even a very short accoimt of each of the fourteen thou- 

 sand species known to exist, was clearly impracticable 

 within the limits of a book of this size. It has been 

 thought desirable, therefore, to give special attention 

 to the birds of America, to corresponding species and 

 allied forms found in Great Britain and on the Con- 

 tinent of Europe, and to certain of the more remarka- 

 ble and interesting birds of other countries. 

 , This work is based upon one by W. P. Pycraft, 

 well known among ornithologists as a systematist and 

 bird anatomist, and now in charge of the Department 

 of Birds in the British Museum. Use has been made 

 of a large part of his admirable Introduction, dealing 

 with the evolution and structure of the bird. Portions 

 of it that were considered too technical to be readily 

 understood by young readers were simplified as much 

 as possible, other portions were omitted as being of 

 comparatively little value, and a few additions were 



