PREFACE. 
In presenting “The Birds of Virginia” to the public, 
the author had two objects in view. 
Since the days of Audubon, and Wilson, many orni- 
thologists have paid short visits to our State, their notes 
appearing in various magazines and papers from time to 
time. To date, however, there has never been published 
any thorough, systematic work on our breeding birds, and 
feeling the need of such a volume as a check list by the 
advanced ornithologists of our country, the author com- 
menced this work some six years ago. On the other hand, 
he has tried to present his accumulation of data in such 
shape as to be of interest to those who only come in contact 
with our native birds from time to time, and so stimulate 
interest along this line. It seems strange that there should 
be so few bird lovers in our State, considering its size and 
the great amount of bird life there has always been here. 
Resident bird students have, however, always been scarce, 
and little or no interest shown in the welfare of the birds. 
This book only treats of those birds which are known to 
breed within the limits of our State, though many other 
species winter with us and remain for a short time during 
their migrations northward and southward, each spring 
and fall. If my ornithological friends find it of help as 
a reference, or if in any way it should help to promote 
interest in the native birds throughout our State, I will 
feel amply repaid for the time spent upon it. 
H. H. B. 
Newrort News, Va., 
March 15th, 1918. 
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