PKEFACE. XI 



To those correspondents, also, in different parts of tlie 

 county, wIlo have supplied me with the earliest intimation 

 of rare occurrences in their respective districts, I here 

 beg to express my best acknowledgments. But for their 

 kindly co-operation many important facts would, in all 

 probability, have escaped my notice, and in recording the 

 names of Capt. Longe and Mr. F. F. Frere, of Yarmouth ; 

 Mr. Rising, of Horsey ; Mr. Newcome, of Feltwell ; the 

 Rev. H. T. Frere, of Burston ; Mr. Dix, of West Harling ; 

 Mr. F. Norgate, of Sparham ; the Rev. T. Fulcher, of 

 Old Buckenham; and Mr. T. Southwell, of Fakenham, I 

 feel no little pride in having interested so many zealous 

 naturalists and collectors in the occupation of my leisure 

 hours. 



Nor can I omit testifying at the same time to the 

 unvarying civility and assistance I have received from 

 our provincial taxidermists. To the late Mr. John Sayer, 

 his assistant Mr. Gunn, and Mr. Knights, of Norwich, I 

 owe many opportunities of examining in the flesh the rarer 

 specimens that have passed through their hands for some 

 years past, and in most cases of ascertaining, by dissection, 

 peculiarities of food, or internal construction. My thanks 

 are also due for various communications to Mr. Ellis, of 

 Swaffham, and Mr. Baker, of Cambridge, as well as to Mr. 

 Phear and Mr. Cole, but recently established in this city. 



In conclusion, I may state that as a contribution only 

 to the wider field of British ornithology, I have adopted 

 both the nomenclature and systematic arrangement of 

 Yarrell's " British Birds," as being the most familiar and, 

 therefore, easiest of reference. In svich few cases, however, 

 as I have deemed it necessary to differ, even from such an 

 authority, for the sake of specific distinction, (vide Falm 

 candicans, SaUcaria strepera, &c.), the motive for so doing 

 has been fully explained in the text. 



It would be needless to offer any comment upon the 

 productions of Mr. Wolf's gifted pencil, but having been 



