IV.— The Heath— an irregular district, partly on the oohte 

 and partly on the lias, and not easily defined. In its 

 more southern portion it is split into two arms by the 

 Witham valley. It runs from S.E. to N.W., and in- 

 cludes the heaths near Woodall Spa, the moorland near 

 Market Rasen and below Caistor, and the commons and 

 rabbit-warrens between Gainsboro' and Frodingham, m 

 the north-west of the county. 



v.— A portion of Kesteven, south of Grantham and east of 

 Belvoir, of which Corby is about the centre, well-wooded, 

 picturesque, and highly cuUivated, and containing noble 

 parks and country seats. 



VL— The Isle of Axholme, formerly moor, bog and widely 

 extending heath and low firwood, but now 50,000 acres 

 of rich warp, and bounded to the north-west by the great 

 level of Thorne waste in Yorkshire. 



It must be clearly understood, however, that these divisions 

 are only approximate, and that with our present knowledge no 

 absolutely hard and fast lines can be laid down defining faunal 

 areas, and that there are yet portions of the county which it is 

 difficult to range under any of these divisions. I have en- 

 deavoured to define roughly six fairly marked districts within 

 the boundaries of Lincolnshire, and I shall now briefly enter 

 more fully into the physical peculiarities of each, and endeavour 

 to show that, notwithstanding the great changes which have 

 taken place, these still possess attractions for the naturahst. I 

 would also mention those special matters which require more 

 careful working out. 



In the Marsh and Middle Marsh is included the whole of the 

 low-lying plain between the foot of the chalk wolds and the sea, 

 including the sea-coast itself and all its wide attractions. The 

 chief interest of this district rests in its ornithology — more par- 

 ticularly in the spring and autumn — and in connection with the 

 migration of birds. The total number of species which can 

 fairly be admitted at the present time into the Lincolnshire avi- 

 fauna is somewhat doubtful. In the Humber district up to this 

 date I have been able to record 290. This compares favourably 

 with the Norfolk list of 293, and Yorkshire with 310. With our 

 present knowledge as to the frequency with which rare birds 



