PREFACE, 
In the following account of the birds of Durham and vicinity, I 
have aimed to present, first, the time and place of occurrence of each 
species, for I know that to be important to the person seeking new 
acquaintances among birds ; second, such items relating to the food of 
birds as I have gathered from time to time in their dissection ; and, 
last, certain personal observations, which, though not of much in- 
trinsic value perhaps, have, at least, served as a sort of sauce to make 
the labor more agreeable to the writer, by helping him to re-enjoy 
the pleasures of other days afield. 
While I have made no systematic attempt to describe birds, for 
their identification, I have thought it well to mention, here and there, 
points that have helped me to distinguish between species that are 
sometimes easily confused. 
The list of birds actually known to occur within a radius of twenty 
miles of Durham numbers 252, of which I have examined, either in 
the flesh or mounted, 240, the other 12 being included on, in my 
opinion, reliable evidence, which is presented in every instance. In 
the supplementary list of possibilities are many names that will ulti- 
mately be transferred to the list of certainties, and I cherish the hope 
that local observers will undertake the task of transference. But to 
any who do so, let me urge the desirableness of certainty. Ornithol- 
ogists prefer to doubt everything of which they have not ocular proof, 
therefore let no pains be spared to substantiate all assertiojis. Bear 
in mind, that a moderate list which can be depended upon, is 
infinitely better than a long one under suspicion. 
Among those to whom I am indebted for permission to examine 
collections, I must mention Mr. S. A. Shaw of Hampton, Mr. Joseph 
Turner of Portsmouth, Mr. William M. C. Philbrick of Kittery, Mr. 
George Wentworth of Rollinsford, ?flr. George H. Yeaton of Rollins- 
ford, Mr. George F. Wentworth of Dover. Mr. Walter O. Shute of 
Newmarket, Mr. John H. Elkins of Exeter, and Mrs. Oliver Dixon of 
Eliot. 
I have followed the nomenclature and sequence of the A. O. U. 
check-list, second edition, to which the numbers refer. 
NED DEARBORN. 
New Hampshire College of Agriculture 
AND THE Mechanic Arts, February 23, 1903. 
