HOW TO USE THE GUIDE 25 
How to Use the Guide 
Pages 28—59. 
The birds are arranged in the following tables 
in order of SIZE, according to the approximate 
length in inches, from tip of tail to tip of bill. 
But in order to use the Guide for the identification 
of an observed bird, it is not necessary to know the 
exact size, only to make a rough guess of the length 
of inches or to estimate it in comparison with some 
known bird. Even if no such estimate is made, the 
use of the Guide is unaffected, but the search will 
take longer. 
Having estimated the size of the bird, the observer 
should carefully note as many of its other features 
as may be possible, colour of head, upper parts, 
under parts, legs, flight movements, haunts, and so 
forth. With these data in his possession he should 
turn to the tables and begin his search. 
If he has estimated the bird to be six inches in 
length he should start from birds of that size, or if 
he has noted it as being of about the size of some 
known bird, he will find the number of that bird in . 
the alphabetical index and begin near that point. 
Familiarity with the following list of common 
birds will assist the observer in the habit of 
estimating sizes at sight. 
Approximate 
Bird. Length. No. in Guide. 
House Sparrow 6 inches page 30 
Starling 84 . 36 
Tui 1270" *35 » 42 
Black-backed Gull 24.5 ,, » o4 
All birds are placed in the tables according to. 
the size of the male. As a rule there is little differ- 
ence between the sexes, but it is important to 
note that among the Hawks the female is generally 
Cc 
