Contents

A chat with the intending reader -- Birds as national emblems -- An ornithological comedy of errors -- The folklore of bird migration -- Noah's messengers -- Birds in Christian tradition and festival -- Birds as symbols and badges -- Black feathers make black birds -- The familiar of witches -- A flock of fabulous fowls -- From ancient auguries to modern rainbirds -- A primitive view of the origin of species -- Birds and the lightning -- Legends in an historical setting -- Some pretty Indian stories.