xii INTRODUCTION. 



It may be remarked, however, that these suggestions are made 

 more with a view of stimulating future observers to strive to 

 advance the ehicidation of difficulties liy their own research, than 

 in any hope of deciding details finally. In this particular, it 

 may be well to point out that, though the Yellow-browed 

 AVarbler and Redbreasted Flycatcher have occurred on the Cornish 

 coasts more than once, they have not yet been obtained in 

 Devonshire. 



The number of American species that have occurred in 

 Devon is remarkable, including the White-winged Crossbill, 

 American Green- winged Teal, American Wigeon, Surf Scoter 

 and numerous Limicolie. 



v.— PREVIOUS WORKERS. 



1700-1 SCO. The first serious attempt to frame an account of the 

 Ornithology of Devon, conceived in anything like a modern 

 spirit, must be referred to the closing years of the eighteenth 

 century. The Gentleman's Magazine for 1790 contains an 

 invitation for assistance in collating a history of Devon, in a 

 letter from the Rev. R. Polwhele, who framed numerous queries, 

 as headings for the information desired. Of these queries 

 the seventh related to " Birds, perennial, emigrating, rare birds, 

 when and where seen in this county, such as the Nightingale or 

 Cornish Chough." His enquiries bore fruit, and the sixth 

 chapter of the first volume of his History of Devonshire, 

 published in 1707, contained as explicit a description of local 

 ornithology as the materials at the author's disposal rendered 

 possible, upwards of one hundred and fifteen species being treated 

 of, under the divisions of Land birds and Waterfowl. That his 

 essay was incomplete no one was more fully aware, than the 

 learned and versatile author. "These notices" he writes " are 

 short, and I am but too sensible, imperfect ; yet they sufficiently 

 prove that Devonshire exhibits an ample field for the pursuits 

 of the ornithologist," a conclusion amply justified by subsequent 

 experience. Polwhele received assistance from the best naturalists 



