FROM: THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. _STATE OF NEW YORK_ _Department of Public Instruction_ _SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE_ _Albany_ December 26, 1896. [Illustration: (seal)] _Stenographic Letter_ Dictated by __________ W. E. Watt, President &c., Fisher Building, 277 Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill. My dear Sir: Please accept my thanks for a copy of the first publication of "Birds." Please enter my name as a regular subscriber. It is one of the most beautiful and interesting publications yet attempted in this direction. It has other attractions in addition to its beauty, and it must win its way to popular favor. Wishing the handsome little magazine abundant prosperity, I remain Yours very respectfully, [signature] State Superintendent. * * * * * Vol. 1. No. 1. JANUARY, 1897. PRICE 15 CENTS: $1.50 A YEAR. ONCE A MONTH. BIRDS ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY [Illustration: NONPAREIL.] NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY OFFICE: FISHER BUILDING CHICAGO BIRDS ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY A MONTHLY SERIAL DESIGNED TO PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE OF BIRD-LIFE "With cheerful hop from perch to spray, They sport along the meads; In social bliss together stray, Where love or fancy leads. Through spring's gay scenes each happy pair Their fluttering joys pursue; Its various charms and produce share, Forever kind and true." CHICAGO, U. S. A. NATURE STUDY PUBLISHING COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1896 PREFACE. It has become a universal custom to obtain and preserve the likenesses of one's friends. Photographs are the most popular form of these likenesses, as they give the true exterior outlines and appearance, (except coloring) of the subjects. But how much more popular and useful does photography become, when it can be used as a means of securing plates from which to print photographs in a regular printing press, and, what is more astonishing and delightful, to produce the REAL COLORS of nature as shown in the subject, no matter how brilliant or varied.