PREFACE. 
I had never flattered myself with the slightest ex¬ 
pectation that a Third Edition of the work on Birds’ Eggs 
would be required, and regret that I have not accumu¬ 
lated — during the sale of the second edition — those 
materials, which I otherwise might have done, to render 
it more worthy of the approbation of the public. 
Greatly encouraged by the success of the past, and 
the very kind and liberal offers of assistance which I 
have met with for the present and the future, no pains 
shall be spared on my part to make the illustrations of 
the forthcoming work as perfect as possible. 
When the former edition of the Eggs was published, it 
was my wish that it should be as much as possible a sequel 
to the British Birds of Mr. Yarrell, and in bringing out 
* 
another edition of the work—and for the same reason— 
I am induced to figure the eggs of those species of birds 
which have since been added to his work, not because 
I think them in all cases well entitled to a place amongst 
our British birds, but because he has thought so. 
It is a difficult thing in these days of rapid transit 
to draw a line which shall mark the boundary of a truly 
