Читать книгу An Australian Bird Book: A Pocket Book for Field Use - John Albert Leach - Страница 6

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This little volume is intended as a pocket book for field use, so that the many teachers, nature-students, nature-lovers, schoolboys, schoolgirls, and boy scouts, who like to "see what they look at," may be able to name the birds they meet.

The first step towards knowing the birds is a desire to know them; this will grow if a person is interested; so our first business, as in all nature-study work, is to arouse interest. Interest follows at once, as we have often found, if a person realizes that what is about him or her is worthy of study.

To arouse this necessary interest, a lecture on Australian birds is given in such a form that it may be repeated, if desired.

The second requisite is a handy descriptive list of the birds that are likely to be seen. This has been written in simple language, so that the schoolboy and non-expert can use it.

Thus, our aims are two:—

1. To show that Australian birds are of interest.

2. To supply, in a convenient form, a list of the birds which are likely to be seen, and the marks by means of which they may be identified.

This little book contains illustrations and descriptions of—

100% of the birds found in Victoria.

92.5% … … … . … . South Australia.

87.3% … … … . … . Tasmania.

82.5% … … … . … . New South Wales.

78.16% … … … . … . W. Australia (S. and C.).

78.15% … … … . … . Queensland.

The balance of those found in each of the other States is made up mainly of birds closely related to those of which illustrations are given, or of very rare birds restricted to a small area.

The families of the birds of the world have been included, so that the observer can see where the bird he is observing is placed amongst the world's birds. He will also be enabled to place near its Australian relatives birds he reads about. The Australian birds only are grouped in orders.

Mr. H. Wilson, Nature-study Lecturer, Training College, superintended the painting of the birds, and saw the book through the press.

A Hand-List of Birds: Dr. Sharpe; and A Hand-List of the Birds of Australasia: Gregory M. Mathews, have been followed for classification and distribution.

But for the interest of the Minister of Education, the Hon. A. A. Billson, and the Director, Mr. F. Tate, M.A., I.S.O., this little book would not have been possible. Further, Mr. Billson suggested the colored illustrations, while Mr. Tate has written the introduction, read the proof-sheets and assisted at all stages.