THE GREY PELICAN. (PELECANUS PHILIPPENSIS)
(A bird of the Plains)

PREFACE

It is easy enough to write a book. The difficultyis to sell the production when it is finished.That, however, is not the author’s business.Nevertheless, the labours of the writer are notover when he has completed the last paragraph of hisbook. He has, then, in most cases, to find a titlefor it.

This, I maintain, should be a matter of little difficulty.I regard a title as a mere distinguishing mark, a brand,a label, a something by which the book may be calledwhen spoken of—nothing more.

According to this view, the value of a title lies, notin its appropriateness to the subject-matter, but in itsdistinctiveness.

To illustrate: some years ago a lady entered a bookseller’sshop and asked for “Drummond’s latest book—NuxVomica.” The bookseller without a word handedher Lux Mundi.

To my way of thinking Lux Mundi is a good titleinasmuch as no other popular book has one like it.So distinctive is it that even when different wordswere substituted the bookseller at once knew what wasintended. That the view here put forward does not[vi]find favour with the critics may perhaps be inferredby the exception many of them took to the title of mylast book—Bombay Ducks.

While commending my view to their consideration,I have on this occasion endeavoured to meet them byresorting to a more orthodox designation. I am, doubtless,pursuing a risky policy. Most of the reviewerswere kind enough to say that Bombay Ducks was agood book with a bad title. When criticising thepresent work they may reverse the adjectives. Whoknows?

D. D.

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. British Birds in the Plains of India 1

II. The Bird in Blue 10

III. Sparrows in the Nursery 16

IV. The Care of Young Birds after they leave the Nest 23

V. The Adjutant Bird 29

VI. The Sarus 35

VII. The Stability of Species

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