Page:A Hand-book to the Game-Birds (Volume 1).djvu/14

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vi
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

identification is the locality (if that is known) in which the individual bird was obtained.

My endeavour has been, as far as possible, to give the description, &c, in the plainest language, devoid of scientific phraseology, but should the reader ever be in doubt as to which part of the bird is referred to, he has only to turn to the diagram (of a Francolin) given at the beginning of the book (p. xvi.), which will clearly explain the terms employed in the description.

I have to acknowledge the great assistance I have received from the works of Captain Bendire on the "Life History of North American Birds," and the notes published by Mr. A. O. Hume, C.B., in the "Game Birds of India." On the Grouse and Ptarmigan I have also derived much useful information from the "Shooting Sketches" of Mr. J. G. Millais.

W. R. OGILVIE-GRANT.