xii PREFACE 
I -have no sympathy—the species represented by a 
boy famous in fiction, whose fondness for birds 
always led him to throw stenes at them. It includes. 
many varieties and sub-varieties, but all its repre- 
sentatives are either random slaughterers or cold- 
blooded exterminators. I would urge my readers 
to oppose them by joining the Soczety for the Pro- 
tection of Birds} 
The illustrations are, nearly all of them, by Mr. 
Prendergast Parker, who has taken great pains to 
make them accurate and really illustrative. Professor 
Howes has very kindly watched their progress and in a 
good many cases provided the specimens from which 
they were drawn. I am much indebted to him for 
this great assistance. Dr. Hans Gadow, Mr. W. B. 
Hardy, Mr. Gilson, and Mr. Macpherson have been 
very kind in reading proof-sheets, and I wish most 
warmly to thank them for the great service they 
have thus rendered me. 
1 For particulars about the Society address the Hon. 
Secretary, Mrs. F. E. Lemon Hillcrest, Redhill, Surrey, 
