Taking the families in the table first, we see that there are twenty-nine families, with an aggregate of 415 species. For a small area like the British Islands, this is a very large percentage, at first sight, of the total known species in the world, which number about 12,500.
Looking now at the total number of species in each family, we see that the Passeridæ hold the first rank, numbering 140, or one-third of the whole number. As our finest songsters are found in this family, we must look on this with great satisfaction.
The next in order of number are the Charadriidæ (56), then come the Anatidæ (44), followed by the Gulls and Terns, or Laridæ (32), lastly, the Vultures and Eagles (31).
That the largest number of species includes the smallest birds, and that the largest birds are in the minority, is only natural, considering the small area and populous state of the country. Here it may be added that the largest British bird is the Mute Swan, measuring 5 ft.; and the smallest bird is the Golden-crested Wren, measuring 3½ in. from tail to beak.
Of resident species, we can now boast 137 species. Several species—such as the Kite, Bittern, Bustard, Crane, and others—used to be resident, whereas they are now only accidental visitors. Of these only five families run into double figures, the Passeridæ being again predominant; whilst next in order are the Anatidæ; then come the Charadriidæ, the Laridæ, and then the Falconidæ.
The total number of resident birds, it will thus be seen, is about one-third of the total number on the list.
Taking next in consideration the summer migrants, which come to us in April and leave us at the latest in October, we find the number that visit us is sixty-eight. Of these fifty are Passeridæ, and none of the rest run into double figures; whilst many of these latter only visit us occasionally, and many of the Passeridæ are resident in certain localities.
This makes our total breeding birds to number 205. Really only about 187 can be said to breed with us regularly, and some of these only locally. This number, it will be noticed, hardly amounts to half the total number.
Owing to the fact that many of our winter migrants only frequent out-of-the-way spots, we can only record thirty-nine
