Mateship With Birds #227684

It is many years since I first heard of the fame of Mr. A. H. Chisholm, who has honored me with a request to write a preface for his book on birds. I say "honored" because he might easily have found a man capable of writing a worthier preface than mine to such a worthy book. I value the compliment the more, because it was mainly through the writings of Mr. Chisholm that I began to take an interest in Australian birds, discovering a new pleasure, and one that will always endure.<br><br>Many books have now been written about Australian birds. I suppose nearly all these books are chiefly of interest to the scientist, who delights in naming a live bird in a dead language. But, by the layman amongst bird lovers - whose interest is no less keen because non-scientific - such a book as Mateship with Birds will be most heartily welcomed.<br><br>Although, in regard to the scientific aspect, Mr. Chisholm is generally regarded as one of the foremost authorities upon birds in Australia, he is not content with mere classification and tabulation. This book of his has been, in a sense, an inspiration. Not only will it be of great interest to the bird lover and the bird observer, but many a man who hitherto has taken little interest in such things will find here new interests and fresh delights. Even he, whose only acquaintance with birds has been amongst sparrows of the city streets, and an occasional pigeon or blackbird, will discover unexpected entertainment.