PEEFACE. 



This, the last volume of my History of British Birds, 

 contains descriptions of all our Natatorial or Palmipede 

 species, with exception of those of the families of the Anserina3 

 and Cygninae, which have already been given. The habits of 

 these birds, not generally so accessible to observation as most 

 of the other families, I have studied, in so far as opportunities 

 occurred, in their places of resort, among rocks and islands, 

 on the sandy shores of the sea, in the firths and estuaries, and 

 on the inland waters. Of many of them, however, and, in 

 particular, of the very rare species which rank with us as 

 stragglers, I have had little to say from my own observa- 

 tion, and not much from that of others. 



The authors whose w^orks have been most useful to me, 

 and which I have generally consulted, are Montagu, M. 

 Temminck, Mr. Selby, Mr. Yarrell, and Mr, Thompson. 

 Some of these birds being common to Europe and America , 

 I have also derived information from the writings of Audu- 

 bon, as well as from my long-continued intercourse with that 

 enthusiastic, acute, and most agreeably communicative natu- 

 rahst and painter, who, moreover, supplied me with skins 

 and specimens preserved in spirits. I have not, on the pre- 

 sent occasion, to acknowledge the aid of many other personal 

 friends, as most of my former contributors professed Httle 

 acquaintance with either the Waders or Swimmers. My old 

 and excellent friend, Dr. Laurence Edmondston, Balta Sound, 

 Shetland, however, has continued to supply notices respect- 

 ing the birds of his native islands. Some others, whose 



