O PREFACE. 



money and the love of fame, the two great stimuli to 

 exertion, have not been among the exciting causes of 

 this attempt to describe the Rapacious Birds of my na- 

 tive land. The latter, as a principle of action, I have 

 always considered contemptible ; the former seemed to 

 me to have little chance of being gratified on this oc- 

 casion, for the profits to be derived from the sale of a 

 work which can excite little general interest, cannot 

 afford a recompense for the great labour undergone in 

 composing it. 



An apology for offering a new book on birds to those 

 who may be pleased to accept it, is quite unnecessary. 

 It is evident that none which has yet appeared contains 

 perfect descriptions, and it is probable that the best of 

 which we can boast will at no distant period be looked 

 upon as in many respects extremely childish. But, as 

 I am desirous that you should not adopt any prejudice 

 tending to induce you to form an erroneous idea of my 

 performance, I may be allowed to present you with a 

 few particulars of my history, shewing that I have en- 

 joyed excellent opportunities of examining the objects 

 of which I treat. I commenced the study of Zoology 

 in 1817, while qualifying myself for the medical pro- 

 fession at Aberdeen, a city not less famed for learned 

 professors than foi* dried haddocks. My only guides 

 were Linnseus and Pennant, for at that period I knew 

 no living wight who had any knowledge of the subject, 

 excepting a fellow student, Mr William Craigie, now 



