Produced by Donald Cummings, Adrian Mastronardi, Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) BIRDS OF BRITAIN BY J. LEWIS BONHOTE M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION WITH 100 ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR SELECTED BY H. E. DRESSER FROM HIS ‘BIRDS OF EUROPE’ [Illustration: Publisher logo] LONDON ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK 1907 _Published November 1907_ [Illustration: MISSEL THRUSH _Turdus viscivorus_ Adult (right). Young (left)] PREFACE The study of Nature has of late years enormously increased, and there is probably no branch of its varied and inexhaustible interests which appeals more strongly to young and old than the fascinating study of Birds. Every one feels more or less interested in Birds, whether it be from pure affection for the Robins and Tits which beg our hospitality during the winter months, or joy at the coming of the Swallow and Cuckoo as heralds of spring. For some the interest is perhaps merely a passing regret at the shooting of one of our rare and beautiful migrants, while with others the real love of bird life makes it a moment of intensest pleasure when, for instance, the melodious note of the Nightingale makes us dimly realise something of the innate beauty of Nature herself. In the following pages will be found not only descriptions and plates of the birds themselves, but, wherever possible, notes on their ways and habits have also been given. These notes having been taken at first hand straight from Nature, it is hoped that they may give a small insight into some of those beautiful mysteries which it is our ambition to unravel, and that, at the same time, they may awaken and stimulate a further desire to know still more of the workings of the great laws of the Universe and the part they play in the lives of even the least of the feathered creatures. It has been thought best to include in this book every species which has been known to occur in Great Britain, with a description of their leading characteristics and true habitat, so that any bird met with may be easily identified; and the plates have been carefully selected so as to give examples of the most typical species. For facts relative to geographical distribution and other technical details the author has freely consulted Mr. Howard Saunders’ _Manual of British Birds_.