ornithologist's text-book. 15 



Cage Birds ; Their Natural History, Manage- 

 ment, Habits, Food, Diseases, Treatment, Breeding, 

 and the methods of catching them ; by J. M. 

 Bechstein, M.D. Orr and Smith, Paternoster How, 

 10s. 6d. 12mo. 



The following passage, from the preface to the 

 first edition, will give our readers some idea of our 

 author's enthusiasm with regard to Ornithology: — 



" If long experience and minute observation on 

 the subject of his work is calculated to gain an 

 author credit, I flatter myself that this will not be 

 denied me, since from my earliest youth I have 

 delighted in being surrounded with birds, and am 

 so aceustomed to them that I cannot write at my 

 desk with pleasure, or even with attention, unless 

 animated by the warbling of the pleasing little 

 creatures which enliven my room. My passion is 

 carried so far that I always have about thirty birds 

 around me, and this has naturally led me to con- 

 sider the best and easiest mode of procuring them, 

 as well as of feeding and preserving them in health. 

 Few amateurs, therefore, are better fitted than my- 

 self to write on this subject, and I hope I have done 

 it to the satisfaction of the public." 



The preface to the third edition is as follows : — 



" A new edition of my Natural History of Cage 

 Birds having been called for, I have made many 

 additions and improvements in the work, as will 

 appear on comparison. Some have alleged that I 

 have been too diffuse in my descriptions, and others 

 find fault that I have introduced birds difficult to 

 tame, such as the gold-crested wren [Gold-crested 

 Kinglet] and the common wren. In the latter case, 

 at least, the most ample details are excusable, as 

 the birds require more care ; yet I know several 

 amateurs who always have one or two wrens flying 

 about a room, or in a cage, and to let loose so 



