BIRD STUDY 

 An Introduction 



While the scientific study of birds is beyond most of 

 us, yet an intimate understanding of them and their 

 ways is within reach of everyone, and may enrich life 

 with a new depth of interest. No line of study opens a 

 more fascinating vista to the mind which wants to know, 

 in the best and truest sense, in what kind of world we are 

 living. 



Most nature study books are written for the latitude 

 of New England. While the sub-tropical natural life 

 of Florida has received considerable attention, it is a 

 strange fact that for all its valuable and richly various 

 fauna and flora the Middle Southern States have had 

 few naturalists. The non-scientific student, in search of 

 a popular work that will help him to some knowledge 

 of birds in this section, is at a loss what to read. It is 

 to help meet this need that the present volume has been 

 written. 



Blank pages are provided for the recording of indi- 

 vidual observations. With the exception of those few 

 species which nest near our homes, comparatively little 

 is known of the daily life and actions of birds. 



Go out alone in early morning, keep the sun at your 

 back, be careful to do nothing that will startle these timid 

 creatures, and see what you will see. Remember that 

 you are dealing with the most sensitively organized of 

 animals. Stand or sit quietly watching them; do not 

 touch nest or eggs, as many species have so keen a scent 



