INTRODUCTION. xv 



Amongst the rarer visitants to this county are 

 the White-tailed Eagle, Iceland Falcon, Scops Owl, 

 Pied Flycatcher, Woodchat, Blue-throated Warbler, 

 Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Rose-coloured Pastor, Little 

 Bustard, Cream-coloured Courser, Collared Pratin- 

 cole, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-winged Stilt, Glossy 

 Ibis, Black Stork, Common Crane, Purple Heron, 

 Night Heron, Squacco Heron, Little Bittern, Ameri- 

 can Bittern, Polish Swan, Eed-crested Pochard, 

 Ruddy Sheldrake, Buffle-headed Duck, Gadwall, Surf 

 Scoter, Caspian Tern, Whiskered Tern, and Ivory 

 Gull. 



It cannot be doubted that if proper protection 

 were aftbrded during the breeding season to our 

 spring visitors, many would remain to breed with us ; 

 and attractive species such as the Hoopoe and Golden 

 Oriole, which are destroyed almost as soon as they 

 reach our coast, would take up their abode with us, 

 and not leave until they had reared their broods. 



It only remains for me to acknowledge the friendly 

 aid which I have received from various correspon- 

 dents in the preparation of this volume. 



In the first place, I am desirous of expressing my 

 great obligations to my friend Mr. J. E. Harting for 

 having looked over the work for me, and for having 

 suggested many useful and interesting additions 

 which would otherwise have escaped record. To Mr. 

 T. M. Pike, of Westport, Wareham, I am indebted 

 for much information relating to the wild-fowl and 

 sea-fowl of Dorsetshire, with which, as a practical 

 observer and experienced wild-fowler, he is so well 



