X. PREFACE. 



favourites, notices of their every-day habits, and of the superstitions 

 connected with them, with many amusing anecdotes derived from 

 personal observation. Dr. Bull dehghted in tracing out the 

 allusions to birds, which may be found in our literature, especially 

 in the poets, and very numerous quotations of this kind will be 

 found in the following pages. Those who best knew the author 

 will most fully understand how thoroughly he enjoyed the task of 

 collecting these allusions. 



Another subject of interest to Dr. Bull was the preservation 

 of the various local names of birds in the different parts of the 

 county, which are often very characteristic, as well as amusing ; 

 a list, as comprehensive as possible, has therefore been added as 

 an Appendix. 



Grateful thanks are due to the many kind friends, who, even 

 while these " Notes " have been passing through the press, have so 

 readily aided in making the work as complete and accurate as 

 possible, and bringing it up to the present date. 



Among these, special mention must be made of the Rev. 

 Clement Ley, Mr. Blake, of Ross, Mr. Lloyd, of Kington, and 

 Dr. Bull's old and valued friend, the Rev. Thos. Woodhouse, 

 of Ropley, in Hampshire, who, though no longer in Herefordshire, 

 still retains a strong affection for his native county, and who has 

 devoted much valuable time to the revision of these " Notes." 

 Mr. H. T. Wharton, General Editor of the "Ibis Catalogue," 

 has also rendered valuable aid in the revision of the later sheets 

 as they passed through the press, and the kind assistance thus 

 generously given is most gratefully acknowledged. 



The Author's own introduction follows. 



