authors' preface 



names we have assumed that the reader is familiar with the popular 

 names of British birds, and have included their scientific names in the 

 index only. We have followed the classification and nomenclature in 

 Witherby's Hajidbook of British Birds (i 938-1 941). 



Unfortunately it is quite impossible to name all those who have 

 personally assisted us in the preparation of this book or to refer by title 

 to the extensive literature we have consulted. In the chapter on fleas 

 alone we have quoted from over a hundred papers. We should never- 

 theless like to express our special gratitude and sincere thanks to all 

 those who have supplied us with specimens, information and criticism, 

 and to all the photographers and draughtsmen who have contributed 

 to the illustrations in this volume. Mr. A. L. E. Barron in particular 

 has lavished infinite care and skill upon the execution of thirty micro- 

 photographs which, in many cases, presented great technical difficulties, 

 and Mr. Arthur Smith has produced the excellent black and white draw- 

 ings. We should like to thank the Editors of the Proceedings of the Zoological 

 Society of London, for permission to reproduce Plate XXIV, and the 

 Editors of the New Naturalist series themselves for all the trouble they 

 have taken on our behalf. Mr. Eric Hosking took the magnificent 

 photograph of birds crowding on the sea-shore (Plate XL) especially 

 for this volume — a photograph which has already become famous. 



M.R. 

 T.G. 



September, ig^g 



Xll 



