PREFACE 
The chief intention of this handbook is to 
supply as plain and simple a means as possible for 
the identification of those species of birds, as well 
as their nests and eggs, which are to be met with 
in the inland districts of this country. Though 
we have a very large number of shore and sea 
birds, they so seldom, generally speaking, happen 
to cross the path of by far the greater number of 
persons interested in bird life, that it has seemed 
that there should be a useful place for a book in 
which the space gained by omitting their numerous 
company, was devoted to a closer account of the 
inland species. 
The book is obviously intended for readers 
whose knowledge of ornithology is of an elementary 
character. In all those cases where the authors 
