IV 
PREFACE. 
ficial state of existence, assist themselves. Now, as ignorance 
of the law is held as no excuse for illegal behaviour, so 
ignorance of the proper way to keep onr prisoner-pets will 
not avail ns, should they pine and die in our hands. It must 
be admitted, however, that there are difficulties in the way of 
those who seek for books to put them right as to the manner 
of rearing or managing their little menagerie. The information 
to be gained concerning the right way to keep various birds, 
for example, has hitherto been confined to a few costly works 
which were only available for wealthy people ; the instructions 
contained in books of a moderate price being of so worthless a 
character that they are assuredly worse than useless, and can 
lead only to the most disastrous results. 
In the following pages the inquirer may depend upon finding 
simple, sound, and practical information on every subject 
connected with the keeping of birds. The humblest of our 
little friends receives the same careful treatment as the most 
magnificent ; little “ Jenny Wren ” in an equal degree with 
stately Macaw. Confident are we that a perusal of our little 
volume will earn for us the approval of the reader. Sure are 
we, too, that, if the little prisoners themselves were able, they 
would unanimously return us their thanks. Our labour has 
been lightened by the consciousness that many a birdcage 
will henceforth contain, in the place of a moping, unclean, 
disease-wasted tenant, a merry creature, happy and joyous in 
its life, and ever eager to testify to its keeper in its own best 
way, the most unbounded satisfaction. 
The Coloured Illustrations are mostly from sketches by 
Harrison Weir. The chapters on “ Birds’ Eggs ” and “ Bird 
Stuffing ” serve to the completeness of the “ Book of Birds.” 
