Birds’ Nests, Eggs, And Egg-Collecting.

PREFACE WITH very kindly reception by the press, and a steady public appreciation, have led to this endeaour to make my IittIe book more complete, by preparing an Enlarged Edition, including all British-breeding birds that have now any reasonable claim for treatmed. The work deals with a number of more or less familiar winter visitors that do not stay to breed with us however, this is perhaps an advantage nowadays, when we all travel much and far. As mentioned in the preface of the first Edition, this book is not intended to encourage the useless collecting of bids eggs from a mere motive, but to aid the youthful naturalist in the study of one of the most interesting phases of bird life. It is to be hoped that the Act of Parliament empowering County Councils to protect either the eggs of certain birds, or those of all birds breeding within a given area, will be of great benefit to many of our feathered friends. Besides pretty extensive experience, I have, in the preparation of this work, sought the aid of such excellent authorities as Yarrel fourth Edition, Seebohm, Dixon, and others, all of whom I gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness. The Problem of Preservation.-As a rule the first subject to which the young naturalist turns his attention is the most interesting one within his reach, and that subject is undoubtedly found in bird-life particularly that portion of it which concerns the negts, eggs, young, and various modes of nidification, for this is really the kernel of ornithology. Its details teach him the utility of systematic study and close observation, two important points in all matters of scientific research. It is my intention in the following pages to furnish as full and interesting particulars on Oology, which may fairly be entitled to the dignity of a science, as can be found, or is likely to be required, in any popular treatise of its modest compass. This particular branch of natural history has bcen uutil lately but indifferently studied-in fact, considered unworthy of higher attention than that which could be bestod upn it by schoolboys. People have bcen content to know that the wonderful architecture and mechanism of a bids nest the outcome of a force vaguely known as instinad, without taking the trouble to discover its workings, extent, or limits. Instinct is an extremely difficult power to dehe, and whether it be described as hereditary habit, or simply accepted as an unknown law of Nature blindly followed by its possessor, it cannot be denied that it is the outcome of conditions, and always amenable by them.....