# Stray Feathers/Volume 1

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STRAY
FEATHERS,
A
Journal of Ornithology
FOR
INDIA AND ITS DEPENDENCIES.
EDITED BY ALLAN HUME.
NOVEMBER, 1872.
​In the uncertainty that existed as to whether arrangements could be matured for the publication of this little Journal in India, I did not venture to solicit communications from any of the numerous collectors for and contributors to my Museum, though many of these are far better qualified to amuse and interest the Ornithological public than myself. Now that the work has been fairly started, I hope that all brother Ornithologists in India will aid me to make the work somewhat worthy of the Science of which we are common votaries. Singlehanded, and with almost my whole time devoted to the performance of public duties, it is certain that even were I far better qualified for the task than I can pretend to be, no satisfactory results could be hoped for,—it is on the co-operation of Indian Ornithologists generally, that success must be dependant, and that co-operation I now most earnestly solicit.
The Editor.
CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 1872–73.
No. I.—November.
No. 2, 3, & 4.—February.
No. 5.—July.
No. 6.—December.
PREFACE.
On the completion of this first bundle of Stray Feathers, in other words of Vol. I., the Editor feels bound to acknowledge most gratefully, the cordial support that, during the past year, he has met with from Indian Ornithologists.
When Buffon wrote his Natural History of Birds, he congratulated himself on a knowledge of nearly 900 species, and estimated that the world might contain 1,500 species altogether, a number, so vast, that it seemed impossible to him, that they should ever be properly dealt with in one work.
The Avifauna of India and its Dependencies, already includes nearly 1,600 species, and it has always appeared to me impossible that so vast a fauna should be adequately dealt with, until it possessed a special local organ of its own, in which the observations and discoveries of professed ornithologists, working on the spot amongst the living birds, could be promptly and conveniently recorded, in which only matters bearing on our great work out here should find a place, and which by being, so to say, always at hand, and humble in its scope, should tempt the innumerable "bird-fanciers," who will not call themselves, (though they often truly are) ornithologists, because their acquaintance with scientific nomenclature is small, to put on record some of the multitudinous facts in regard to the distribution and habits of birds that, as travellers and sportsmen, are daily brought to their notice.
It was to supply such a special local organ, that our little Magazine was called into existence, and, so far as professed ornithologists are concerned, it has succeeded beyond the expectations and deserts of its Editor.
But, where the "bird-fanciers" are concerned, it has been, in great measure, a failure. There are hundreds of sportsmen in India, who could tell us facts about the nidification, habits, migrations, distribution, &c., of species of which we know little, and what I would urge upon all my kind coadjutors is, each in his own circle of friends, to endeavour to stir observant Sportsmen up, to add, each, their quota of knowledge to the general stock.
If would-be contributors have doubts as to the names of birds, in regard to which they have observations to record, let them send me skins (the veriest rags, will in most cases suffice) and I will with pleasure identify and return them.
Specially, in the matter of nidification and eggs are we in want of additional information; what is already on record on this subject, so far as I am acquainted with it, and what I have been ​able to ascertain personally or from others, is set forth in my Rough Draft of "Eggs and Nests" of Indian Birds, Part I., of which has just been printed, and the two remaining parts of which will be available during the course of this present year. I venture to hope, that a perusal of this will show many "bird fanciers" and sportsmen, as well as ornithologists, that much information possessed by them is as yet not generally known, and that they will make it so through the pages of Stray Feathers.
As to distribution again much remains to be worked out, and the importance of careful local faunas, in a vast region like that with which we deal, and in which, as it were, the Palæarctic and Palætropic faunas meet, cannot be overrated.
No special scientific knowledge is necessary for the preparation of these—a man has only to collect steadily, in almost any locality for a year or eighteen months, one or two specimens of every species he can come across in his neighbourhood, to note, so far as practicable, in regard to each, whether they are rare or common, whether they are permanent residents or seasonal visitants, and if the latter, when they arrive and when they leave; whether they breed in his neighbourhood, and if so, when; what their nests are like, where they are situated, how they are composed, how many eggs they lay, and what these are like, and what their dimensions are; what the nestlings and what the young birds are like; what localities and what food the birds affect, and, even if he does all this very, very imperfectly in regard to a vast number of species, he will still (after his birds have been identified) possess materials for a most useful and instructive local avifauna, such as the most critical professed ornithologist will welcome cordially.
May I not hope that some of my supporters will turn their especial attention to local avifaunas such as that contributed by Mr. R. M. Adam to this present volume?
In conclusion, I must crave indulgence, especially from European readers, who have no conception of the difficulties attending the printing of works of this nature in India, for the many typographical errors that have—anything but adorned—our pages. In this as in other matters we shall try to improve, and in the mean time, I would pray all, both Indian and European, readers to be
"To our sad faults a little blind, To our small merits, very kind!"
A. O. HUME.
Calcutta, December 1st, 1873.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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