Excerpt from A Pocket-Book of British Birds As introductory to this little book, I think it is desirable that its object should, in the first place, be explained. It is intended solely for the purposes of reference in the field, and has been very carefully compiled by the combined aid of well-known ornithological works, coupled with practical observations and notes made by myself from time to time in various parts of the British Isles. The book is of a small size, and should be carried in the pocket, where it would always be handy. I am aware that an alphabetical arrangement has much to commend it, but I have refrained from adopting such for the very reason that, in the field, as elsewhere, the mind should be trained to regard birds as creatures belonging to some distinct order and family; accordingly I have adopted a scientific arrangement similar to that set forth in Howard Saunders's admirable 'Manual of British Birds, ' a comprehensive work that all lovers and students of Ornithology, requiring more complete information, should at once consult. Information will be found about all British birds that breed in these islands, and those that are regular visitors at one time of the year or another. Rare species - in some cases irregular stragglers and perhaps unwilling visitors - hardly come within the scope of this book, as the chances of seeing them during a country ramble are very slight. Dismissing at once those species of which only a few specimens have been observed or obtained in this country, there yet remain a goodly number of rare birds, and a short note about them is given, either because in many cases, though irregular in their visits, they may be seen in considerable numbers when they do come, or because, though admittedly rare, they so closely resemble other commoner kinds, that it is quite possible they may have been overlooked. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.