Notes of Birds. 291 
tural history, of our ingenious countryman 
the late Rev. Gilbert White of Selborne in 
Hampshire, which abound with new and 
interesting facts. This diligent observer, 
whose example in investigating nature cannot 
be too highly recommended, instead of con- 
fining himself to the mere classification of 
natural objects, ranged the extensive wood, 
the tangled brake, the solitary sheep-walk, 
and the treacherous morass, to contemplate 
the manner of life, dispositions, and peculiar 
characters, of their feathered inhabitants, in 
their most sequestered retreats; and his 
writings bear ample testimony how well his 
researches were repaid. ‘The subject, how- 
ever, is still far from being exhausted: know- 
‘ledge is acquired slowly ; and even the most 
careful and indefatigable inquirers are liable 
to errors and omissions: much yet remains 
to be supplied, much to be corrected, before 
the history of British birds can be pronounced 
complete. 
To the practical ornithologist, who is de- 
sirous of promoting and extending his fa- 
vourite study by the communication of his 
own personal observations and remarks, an 
intimate acquaintance with the various notes 
of the feathered tribes is of such vast import- 
ance, that any difficulties he may encounter 
