A Penny Weekly Magazine of Natural History. 



No. 41. AUGUST 7th, 1880. Vol. 1. 



BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR 

 NESTS, AND EGGS. 



f"TN the completion of the brief 

 U papers on the nests and eggs of 

 Imr common Birds, in Number 15 of 

 ■lie Young Naturalist, a hint was given 

 that a more extended and illustrated 

 Jccount of these should be prepared at 

 lome future time. After very careful 

 lonsideration of the subject I have 

 lome to the conclusion that an account 

 If the eggs and nests should also 

 lontain an account of the birds. In 

 i eality they are but parts of one whole, 

 nd either is needed to illustrate the 

 jther, in the same way that the larva 

 Ind pupa of insects are needed to 

 Jlustrate the species in its perfect 

 Late. Indeed, it is absolutely necess- 

 L-y that the Oologist should not only 

 now the different birds, but he should 

 uow them well, and at sight, that he 

 ay properly authenticate those eggs 

 bich, closely resembling each other, 

 'ten belong to closely allied species, 

 nthe other hand, the Ornithologist has 

 metimes to appeal to the construction 

 site of the nest, or the characteristics 

 the eggs, to satisfy himself that two 



very similar birds are really distinct. 

 The two branches of the subject are so 

 closely akin, that it is scarcely possible 

 to write on one without constant 

 reference to the other. The present 

 series of papers will therefore contain a 

 brief account of the birds themselves, 

 their plumage, habits, food, and any 

 other interesting particulars, and of 

 their nests and eggs ; all of which will 

 be as fully described as may be deemed 

 necessary for a full knowledge of them. 

 These descriptions will be taken in 

 nearly every case from natural speci- 

 mens. The series will embrace all 

 those birds that have a sufficient claim 

 to be called "British," by residing in 

 Britain either the whole year, or 

 during some certain portion of it. 

 Stragglers from a distant land, that 

 only occasionally find their way to our 

 shores, cannot with any propriety be 

 called " British Birds." It will be a 

 matter for after consideration whether 

 any account be given of these chance 

 visitors, but if so, it will only bo after 

 the completion of the main work. 



It is not possible that figures either 

 of the birds or their eggs be given with 



