STATISTICS RELATING TO BRITISH BIRDS. 57 



Taking the families in the table first, we see that there are 

 twenty-nine families, with an aggregate of 415 species. For a 

 small area like the British Islands, this is a very large per- 

 centage, at first sight, of the ; total known species in the world, 

 which number about 12,500. 



Looking now at the total number of species in each family, 

 we see that the Passeridce hold the first rank, numbering 140, 

 or one-third of the whole number. As our finest songsters 

 are found in this family, we must look on this with great satis- 

 faction. 



The next in order of number are the Gharadriidce (56), then 

 come the Anatidce (44), followed by the Gulls and Terns, or 

 Laridce (32), lastly, the Vultures and Eagles (31). 



That the largest number of species includes the smallest birds, 

 and that the largest birds are in the minority, is only natural, 

 considering the small area and populous state of the country. 

 Here it may be added that the largest British bird is the Mute 

 Swan, measuring 5 ft. ; and the smallest bird is the Golden- 

 crested Wren, measuring 3|- in. from tail to beak. 



Of resident species, we can now boast J 37 species. Several 

 species — such as the Kite, Bittern, Bustard, Crane, and others — 

 used to be resident, whereas they are now only accidental visitors. 

 Of these only five families run into double figures, the Passeridce 

 being again predominant; whilst next in order are the Anatidce; 

 then come the Charadriidce, the Laridce, and then the Falconidce. 



The total number of resident birds, it will thus be seen, is 

 about one-third of the total number on the list. 



Taking next in consideration the summer migrants, which 

 come to us in April and leave us at the latest in October, we find 

 the number that visit us is sixty-eight. Of these fifty are 

 Passeridce, and none of the rest run into double figures ; whilst 

 many of these latter only visit us occasionally, and many of the 

 Passeridce are resident in certain localities. 



This makes our total breeding birds to number 205. Eeally 

 only about 187 can be said to breed with us regularly, and some 

 of these only locally. This number, it will be noticed, hardly 

 amounts to half the total number. 



Owing to the fact that many of our winter migrants only 

 frequent out-of-the-way spots, we can only record thirty-nine 



Zooi. Hh ser. vol. VI. , February, 1902. F 



