ve abundance of the
birds and the height of the migration in Lincoln Park.

We wish to thank our friends for their kind support in furthering our
efforts to enlarge the circle of admirers which the wild birds so richly
deserve.

"All nature is so full that that district produces the greatest variety
which is most examined."

--_Gilbert White, 1768._

Preface.

The object of this little book is to furnish those who may be interested
in making the acquaintance of wild birds with a simple letter of
introduction to 145 birds, the majority of which are commonly seen during
the spring migration.

Complete descriptions have been avoided, in the belief that the student
should rely upon his own observation for the discovery of minor details.
_The living bird_ is the one important fact which will make the brief
hints offered of value.

Anyone caring to make use of these hints may be assured that during the
migrations of the birds city dwellers have one of the keenest delights of
country life brought to their very doors, because many birds, migrating
largely at night, are attracted by the lights of the city and stop off in
their long journey to feed, so that a city park often contains a greater
variety of feathered visitors than an equal area in the country.

We wish to remind those of our friends who have asked for pictures in a
future edition that this book actually is _copiously illustrated_ by
hundreds of living birds every springtime in our parks and around our
homes, illustrations that are all life size, absolutely accurate in
detail and colored true to nature.

"As for the birds * * * they add immeasurably to the wholesome beauty of
life."

--_Theodore Roosevelt, in Bird Lore, Vol. II, p. 98._

General Hints.

"A good observer is quick to take a hint and follow it up."--_John
Burroughs._

The identification of birds depends quite as much upon accurate
observation of their size, motions, flight, characteristic attitudes,
manner of feeding, company, song, call-notes and haunts, as upon details
of form and color. Especial care is necessary to insure correct estimates
of size for the reason that living birds often appear smaller to the
unpracticed eye than they actually are. The familiar _English Sparrow_ is
a convenient standard of size because it is usually at hand in our city
parks for instant refere