A GUIDE TO THE 



BIRDS OF XEW EXGLAXD AXD 



EASTERX XEW YORK 



THE OBJECT AXD PLAif OF THIS GUIDE 



Thkke 15 sometliiiig infecticMs in the endraMasm of a stu- 

 dent of Uids. To hear him talk abont the excitement of see- 

 ing a new biid, to lead his account of it. or. best :: alL to go 

 afield wiUi Iiitti on a ^laj moming. if often enough to awaken 

 a new infeiest, -which eiri ihes life :•:• i surprising degree. The . 

 study of bir<ls pnesents plenty of difficulties, which add fael 

 to the flame ■:>! real enthnaasm : there are slocghs of despond 

 beyood which the faint-hearted nerer get. A guide who 

 knc'^5 the way. its pit&lls and short ctit^. i= always wel- 

 come, and almost necessary in these days when onr only 

 weapon is die opera-glass. In spite of the &ct that many 

 excellent books are now aTailable, the author offers aiothei. 

 both in the belief thit there can nereT be too many go-r-i 

 guides, and in the hop-e that this cc-ii has been especially 

 adapted to the growing class of beginners in lord study. 



He book is ti»e les-it of experience with many field- 

 classes. £TeTT effort has been made to emphasize the aspect 

 of birds as seen out of doors, to describe their general or most 

 prominent colors rather than any maik difficult to s«e on the 

 liTing lard, and to call attention to th^ characteristic halits 

 and haunts, and thus to enaUe the conscientioiis student to 

 answer, wifli as much certainty as possible, the q^iestton. 



