PREFACE. ix 



dusky Cormorants ; and, far away, in the direction of Port- 

 land Island, a Gannet, well known by its peculiar flight, 

 winnows its exploring way, and plunges headlong into the 

 deep. But neither time nor place are favourable to the 

 observation of the Wading tribes, although the country 

 around supplies the greater number of those found in Britain. 

 It is not until disabled that the observer of the habits of 

 wild animals becomes sensible of the happiness he has enjoyed, 

 in exercising: the faculties with which his benign Creator has 

 endowed him. No study or pursuit is better adapted for such 

 enjoyment, or so well fitted to afford pleasures not liable to 

 be repented of, than Natural History. Is there any ordinary 

 occupation or profession — Law or Medicine, Mathematics, 

 Greek or Latin, or Engineering, or Fighting, or Commerce, 

 Trade or Farming — that tends more to bring a man into 

 sensible relation to his Maker ? Yet how often have I heard 

 persons, lay and clerical — but not one of them having the 

 least taste for the study of nature, whether as a mere science, 

 or as a part of theology — insinuate, and lament, that natural- 

 ists forget all regard to God in the study of His works, and 

 hint that they themselves, ignorant of what they consider it 

 of no importance for them to know, have wisely chosen the 

 good part. How different is the feeling of a pious man who 

 has studied nature ! And are there not at least as many pious 

 men among naturalists as in any other class of people ? — and 

 are not those who have carefully studied the works of God 

 better qualified to join intelligently with the Psalmist in 

 giving Him the glory due to His excellent power and wisdom, 

 than those who superciliously sneer at beetles and birds' skins, 

 skeletons of alligators, and scales of fishes ? May this mag- 

 nificent study, second to none but Theology, daily gain more 

 favour in the eyes of the public ; and be the time not distant 

 when observers shall arise capable of giving greater accuracy 

 and precision to our knowledge of British Birds. While the 

 world endures — be it a thousand years or ten millions of 

 centuries — the works of God will never be fully comprehended 

 by man ; and thus, there is delightful occupation in view for 

 all time. I have exercised the faculties given me upon them, 

 and if men of more intellect, and having better opportunities, 



