INTRODUCTION. 
13 
objects of love and reverence with the Egyptians, while no hortus siccus can 
compare with the pages of his plays. How universal, too, was his glance, so that 
the traveller by the Avon can hardly find tree, bird, flower, or reptile on which his 
eye has not fastened, and forthwith turned it into gold by his alchemy! 
Besides the literary associations which our birds possess, a multitude of popular 
beliefs and ancestral stories are connected with them. It has been another aim of 
the writer’s to direct attention to this side of bird life, feeling confident that it will 
well repay research and bring its students into closer relations both with their fore¬ 
fathers and with birds themselves. Here again it has only been possible to touch 
upon a tithe of the curious associations of birds which constitute their folk-lore, 
but he is the less concerned about his omissions as a work treating of the folk¬ 
lore of English birds in its entirety is now being composed by a very competent 
author,- which will ere long be published under the auspices of the Folk-lore 
Society. 
The pleasing duty remains of returning thanks to those authors who have so 
largely assisted the writer. Foremost among these comes Professor Newton, whose 
edition of Yarrell’s “ Birds,” so far as it is published, is indispensable to every 
observer of English bird life. The more it is used, the more does the reader 
regret that its author does not endeavour to continue its issue at an accelerated 
pace. Twenty years hence at the present rate will hardly see its conclusion, and 
unfortunately ornithologists are not antediluvians. To the late Mr. Johns’ “History 
of British Birds,” and to Mr. Harting’s “ Handbook and Ornithology of Shakespeare,” 
the writer is much indebted; as well as to Mr. Jesse, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Cordeaux, 
Mr. J. Harvie Brown, Waterton, and several others whose assistance has generally 
been acknowledged as used. 
