This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

PREFACE THE object in the present volume has been to give a brief description of such birds of the world as are usually to be seen in zoological collections and in muscurns, together with some of the most significant and striking facts in their life-histories. To include even a very short account of each of the fourteen Fhou sand species known to exist, was clearly impracticable within the limits of a book of this size. It has been thought desirable, therefore, to give special attention to the birds of America, to corresponding species and allied forms found in Great Britain and on the Continent of Europe, and to certain of the more remarkable and interesting birds of other countries, This work is based upon one by TV. P. Pycraft, well known among ornithologists as a systematist and bird anatomist, and now in charge of the Depadment of Birds in the British Rfuseum. Use has been made of a Iarge part of his admirable Introduction, dealing with the evolution and structure of the bird. Portions of it that were considered too technical to be readiIy understood bp young readers were simplified as much as possible, other portions were omitted as b - e ing of - comparatively little value, and a few additions were iii iv PREFACE made. The general arrangement has been adhered to throughout. The interest in birds is widespread and constantly growing, and it is hoped that the use of this volume as a reference-book will lead young readers to further study of this most fascinating subject. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE . ... 111 INTRODUCTION . xi PUBLISHERS NOTE . . xliv CHAPTER I OSTRICH-LIK B E IR DS . I Orders-Casuarii, Struthiones, Apteryges, Crypturi. CHAPTER I1 CHAPTER I11 DIVING-BIR P D E S T, R ELS, A ND PENGUINS . 14 Orders-Pygopodes, Tubinares, and Im pennes. CHAPTER IV TOTIPALMA B T IR E D S HERONS, STORKS, AND FLAMINGOE . S 23 Orders-Steganopodes, Ardeae, Ciconz, and Phaenicopteri. CHAPTER V, DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 44 Order-Anseres. v vi CONTENTS CHAPTER V1 PAGE BIRDS OF PREY SECRETARY-BIRDE, A GLES, BUZZARDSH, AWKS, KITES, VULTURES, 4 ND FALCON . S 56 Order-Accipitres. CHAPTER V11 FOWL-LIK BI E R DS . 78 Order-Galli formes. CHAPTER V111 CRANES, RAILS, AND BUSTARDS . . 93 Order-Grui formes. CHAPTER IX PLOVER G S U, L LS, A ND AUKS . . . 101 Order-Charadriiformes. CHAPTER X CHAPTER XI PARROT AN S D CUCKOOS . I 3 3 Orders-Psittaci and Cuculi. CHAPTER XI1 ROLLERSM, OTMOTSK, INGFISHERSB, EE-EATERS, HOOPOES A, ND HORNBIL . L S . 142 Order-Coraciz. CONTENTS vii CHAPTER XI11 PAGE NIGHTJ ARS, S WIFTS A, ND HUMMINGBIR . DS . 148 Orders-Caprimulgi, Cypseli. CHAPTER XIV OWLS . . 156 Order-Striges. CHAPTER XV TROGOTNOSU, CAN AN S D, WOODPECKER . S . 164 Orders-Trogones and Pici. CHAPTER XVI PASSERI B N I E RD S . 172 Order-Passeriformes. LIST OF COLOUR PLATES, Fro ztispiece Puczvtg page 74 Facing page 70 Facirzg page 64 Facing page 60 Pacing page x 60 Facing page I 68 Fncing page r 34 Facing page x 3 8 Facing pnge K 44 Facing pnge I 8 2 Facing puge 196 Facing page 200 Facing puge 206 Facing paqe z r 2 Facing page I 8 6 Facing page 220 Facing page 226 Facing page 216 Facilag page 176 Facing page 230 Facil g pajy I 5 2 Fncing page I 26 Facing page r 30 LIST OF COLOR PLATES Facing page 88 Facing page 86 Facing page 84 Facing page 80 Facing page 4 Facing page 96 Facing page 104 Facing page I 08 Facing page I I 2 Facing page 30 Facing page 36 Facing page ga Facing page 46 Facing page 26Facing page I I 6 Facing page I 6 Facing page 20 FULL-PAGE HALF-TONE PLATES PLATE 41 . . Facing page 92 PLATE 42 . ...

PREFACE THE object in the present volume has been to give a brief description of such birds of the world as are usually to be seen in zoological collections and in muscurns, together with some of the most significant and striking facts in their life-histories. To include even a very short account of each of the fourteen Fhou sand species known to exist, was clearly impracticable within the limits of a book of this size. It has been thought desirable, therefore, to give special attention to the birds of America, to corresponding species and allied forms found in Great Britain and on the Continent of Europe, and to certain of the more remarkable and interesting birds of other countries, This work is based upon one by TV. P. Pycraft, well known among ornithologists as a systematist and bird anatomist, and now in charge of the Depadment of Birds in the British Rfuseum. Use has been made of a Iarge part of his admirable Introduction, dealing with the evolution and structure of the bird. Portions of it that were considered too technical to be readiIy understood bp young readers were simplified as much as possible, other portions were omitted as b - e ing of - comparatively little value, and a few additions were iii iv PREFACE made. The general arrangement has been adhered to throughout. The interest in birds is widespread and constantly growing, and it is hoped that the use of this volume as a reference-book will lead young readers to further study of this most fascinating subject. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE . ... 111 INTRODUCTION . xi PUBLISHERS NOTE . . xliv CHAPTER I OSTRICH-LIK B E IR DS . I Orders-Casuarii, Struthiones, Apteryges, Crypturi. CHAPTER I1 CHAPTER I11 DIVING-BIR P D E S T, R ELS, A ND PENGUINS . 14 Orders-Pygopodes, Tubinares, and Im pennes. CHAPTER IV TOTIPALMA B T IR E D S HERONS, STORKS, AND FLAMINGOE . S 23 Orders-Steganopodes, Ardeae, Ciconz, and Phaenicopteri. CHAPTER V, DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 44 Order-Anseres. v vi CONTENTS CHAPTER V1 PAGE BIRDS OF PREY SECRETARY-BIRDE, A GLES, BUZZARDSH, AWKS, KITES, VULTURES, 4 ND FALCON . S 56 Order-Accipitres. CHAPTER V11 FOWL-LIK BI E R DS . 78 Order-Galli formes. CHAPTER V111 CRANES, RAILS, AND BUSTARDS . . 93 Order-Grui formes. CHAPTER IX PLOVER G S U, L LS, A ND AUKS . . . 101 Order-Charadriiformes. CHAPTER X CHAPTER XI PARROT AN S D CUCKOOS . I 3 3 Orders-Psittaci and Cuculi. CHAPTER XI1 ROLLERSM, OTMOTSK, INGFISHERSB, EE-EATERS, HOOPOES A, ND HORNBIL . L S . 142 Order-Coraciz. CONTENTS vii CHAPTER XI11 PAGE NIGHTJ ARS, S WIFTS A, ND HUMMINGBIR . DS . 148 Orders-Caprimulgi, Cypseli. CHAPTER XIV OWLS . . 156 Order-Striges. CHAPTER XV TROGOTNOSU, CAN AN S D, WOODPECKER . S . 164 Orders-Trogones and Pici. CHAPTER XVI PASSERI B N I E RD S . 172 Order-Passeriformes. LIST OF COLOUR PLATES, Fro ztispiece Puczvtg page 74 Facing page 70 Facirzg page 64 Facing page 60 Pacing page x 60 Facing page I 68 Fncing page r 34 Facing page x 3 8 Facing pnge K 44 Facing pnge I 8 2 Facing puge 196 Facing page 200 Facing puge 206 Facing paqe z r 2 Facing page I 8 6 Facing page 220 Facing page 226 Facing page 216 Facilag page 176 Facing page 230 Facil g pajy I 5 2 Fncing page I 26 Facing page r 30 LIST OF COLOR PLATES Facing page 88 Facing page 86 Facing page 84 Facing page 80 Facing page 4 Facing page 96 Facing page 104 Facing page I 08 Facing page I I 2 Facing page 30 Facing page 36 Facing page ga Facing page 46 Facing page 26Facing page I I 6 Facing page I 6 Facing page 20 FULL-PAGE HALF-TONE PLATES PLATE 41 . . Facing page 92 PLATE 42 . ...