PREFACE. 
THERE is no need nowadays to apologise for the 
publication of a County Fauna. The value of local 
lists to naturalists is so generally recognised, that 
it is a matter of surprise that no comprehensive 
account of the Cheshire Birds has hitherto been 
compiled. As no one has come forward to fill up the 
gap, and place Cheshire on a level with neighbouring 
counties in this respect, we venture to submit this 
work to the public. Our object has been to critically 
consider the lists of previous authors, who have dealt 
with portions of the county only, and the records 
which have appeared from time to time in magazines 
and other publications. We have been able to sup- 
plement these with information communicated to us 
by many correspondents, and with matter from our 
own notebooks. 
We have purposely omitted technical descriptions 
of plumage, and general observations on habits, which 
may be found in any reliable textbook, and have 
endeavoured to express ourselves as concisely and in 
as simple language as possible. 
T. A. COWARD, Bownon. 
CHARLES OLDHAM, A.LpERLEY EDGE. 
March 1900. 
