PLAJ^ OF THE BOOK 
falls but other points are mentioned, particularly in the case 
of breeding habits, under "Other habits". 
In no case, however, has' any regard heen paid to rigid 
adherence to a plan. As varied circumstances arose they were 
dealt with in the most convenient manner. !n the case of the 
pigeons for instance it was considered that a *'key" would 
be useful for their identification, for local sportsmen often 
marvel at the variation in the **puntii" they shoot, whereas in 
some of the other groups o( birds "keys" would be useless 
except in the hands of a trained naturalist. 
The reader will notice other apparent iiiconsistencks. The 
section on game-birds is larger than that devoted to more 
familiar species and for equally obvious reasons resident birds 
have been given preference to migratory species and in many 
cases where there is little chance of a bird breeding locally no 
mention of the nest and eggs has been made. Certain more 
or less obscure although not rare perching-birds have been 
dismissed in a paragraph in order that the very popular sun- . 
birds could be given extra attention. 
For the information contained in this book we have laid 
, under contribution many published works to which we trust 
due acknowledgment has been made at least to the author. 
