VI PREFACE. 



resulted in a request to undertake the editing, and finally all the 

 materials were placed in the present Editor's hands in the begin- 

 ning of the year 1889. It was also arranged that, as considerable 

 attention had for some years been bestowed upon many other 

 districts of Argyll and the Isles, this volume should form one 

 of the series on the Vertebrate Fauna of Scotland at present 

 being issued by Mr David Douglas. This was unanimously 

 approved of by all parties concerned. 



As for those who have not yet, of course, been consulted — 

 viz., the readers of the volume — the present Editor desires that 

 it should be looked upon somewhat in the light of a relief-volume, 

 affording insight into the life in the Hebrides not only of the 

 birds of Iona, but also of the Naturalist who spent so much of 

 his time and leisure in their pursuit and study. The sketches — 

 " Heart-pictures " — by the author have been selected for illustra- 

 tion, not as highly-finished artistic productions, but simply as 

 partly illustrating the text, partly illustrating Graham's sense of 

 humour, whilst rapidly drawing them in the long winter evenings 

 for the amusement of the kind friends with whom he lived, and 

 also to serve the purpose of a pleasant recollection of his life 

 and work in Iona amongst his friends and the remaining members 

 of his family. 



After careful consideration he has decided not to bring the 

 bird-list up to date, but rather to retain Mr Graham's Notes 

 almost intact ; all the more so, as a later opportunity, under the 

 title of another volume of the series, will, it is hoped, be given, 



