PREFACE. 5 



birds. With what success my efforts have been crown- 

 ed, you may have an opportunity of judjjing some years 

 hence. But as the period at which I purpose to intro- 

 duce to your notice my great work, as I may call it, is 

 far distant, I have thought that you might not be dis- 

 pleased to receive an account of some of our feathered 

 tribes, even if very imperfect, provided it should con- 

 vey information not elsewhere to be obtained. 



I have, tlierefore, resolved to lay before you descrip • 

 tions of the British Birds of Prey, which may possibly 

 be followed by those of other groups. Although I 

 must regret that the work is not complete, even accord- 

 ing to the plan which I have laid down for myself, I 

 yet can only request of you to treat it precisely as it 

 deserves, consigning it to neglect, or perusing it with 

 attention, just as you deem it worthy of the one or the 

 other. On this principle I have always acted with re- 

 spect to myself, and I can shew no more favour to my 

 book. Although I have published many original pa- 

 pers, as well as various translations and compilations, 

 all in the regular way of business, I consider the pre- 

 sent as my first work. Viewing it in this light, I 

 might perhaps claim for it a little indulgence, which I 

 believe some readers would be ready to accord. But, 

 as I have said, let it stand by its own merits. 



The descriptions you will generally find to be long, 

 perhaps tedious. Yet they are not nearly so full as 

 I should make them, were I to profess to give a de- 



