XIV. INTRODUCTION 
carried on in adverse no less than in genial weather, in 
remote and difficult places no less than on the silvery beach 
over which one can travel for miles without growing tired, 
than by yielding to an impetuous desire to shoot every 
specimen which happens to come within range of the fowling- 
lece. 
i The destruction of sea-birds, especially of Terns and 
Gulls for millinery and other useless purposes, is in a 
marked degree brutal, and in those pages dealing with the 
species generally victimised, I have not refrained from 
expressing an opinion on the subject. Happily in many 
districts sea-birds and their eggs are now protected by 
law, and itis to be hoped that this protection will be 
extended to other districts. The Societies for the Protec- 
tion of Wild Birds in both Great Britain and Ireland, are 
doing such excellent and energetic work in this direction 
that it is needless to say more. 
Fortunately the large majority of shore-frequenting 
birds breed in latitudes far north of the British Isles, where 
their eggs and young are little molested, and so despite the 
raids of the gunner the numbers are well kept up. But 
some, such as the Chough and Kite, in seeming danger of 
becoming extinct as British breeding-species, deserve to be 
put under the rigid protection of the Law. 
The Systematic Ornithologist who would study plumages 
and structural characters must of course collect a certain 
number of specimens, and any one who possesses a real love 
for field-work will, no doubt, prefer to collect his own. It is 
true that the pursuit of birds often demands endurance, 
patience, and tactful manoeuvring, in the course of which, 
however, much practical knowledge can be gained ; indeed 
field-work properly carried out is the keystone to Systematic 
Ornithology. But it frequently happens that time and 
opportunity are not afforded to secure certain specimens 
which may be particularly needed, and so one is driven to 
seek the aid of others. Here the sportsman can often 
materially help. Indeed the numbers of strange birds, 
which from time to time fall to his gun, are remarkable, 
especially those skulking, marsh-frequenting species, which 
only a well-trained dog can flush, and a keen-sighted and 
clever marksman can bag. It were indeed to be wished 
