PREFACE. 
viii 
the volumes for the new edition, in face of the many exhaustive 
works which had preceded it. Remembering first, however, 
the convenient size in which the publishers proposed to issue 
the new edition of the “ Naturalist’s Library,” we came to the 
conclusion that the most useful way in which the volumes could 
be issued would be as a “ Hand-book ” ; and in this unpreten- 
tious form we have prepared the work. In these volumes on 
British Birds we trust that the student will find a useful guide, 
which shall give him some idea of the characters, colour, geo- 
graphical distribution, nests and eggs of the birds of his native 
country. This has been our special care and pleasure to en- 
deavour to provide, while a few notes, limited by the extent of 
the volumes, are given on the habits of the different species. 
In the course of study, engendered by the efforts detailed 
above, we have come to the conclusion that there is much 
useful work still to be done with regard to our native birds, in 
various directions, some of which we may particularise as 
follows : — 
1. The study of the moulting of birds, the way in which the 
young gain the plumage of the adult, and the method of change 
from summer to winter plumage, &c. 
2. A record of the distribution of birds throughout the 
British Islands. This is a very important subject, and one 
which offers a fertile field of observation to any enthusiastic 
young ornithologist. A model can be found in Fatio and 
Studer’s “ Catalogue des Oiseaux de la Suisse ” ; and so many 
useful books and lists of the birds of various districts of Great 
Britain have been published during recent years, that it ought 
now to be possible to gather together the threads and publish 
a useful volume on the geographical distribution of our native 
birds. 
3. The migration of birds in Great Britain. Much has been 
done during the past few years to improve our knowledge of 
