Preface. 



IT has been suggested by naturalists and wild fowlers 

 who have from time to time visited this part of 

 England, that I should write a book of my experiences 

 respecting observations of the migratory feathered tribe. 



Of the bigger birds, which habitually visit the place 

 from early September to the end of March, I have observed 

 more than thirty distinct species, hence the many visits 

 paid by wild fowlers during the winter. Some rare 

 specimens are met with, and it seems somewhat incredible 

 that over one hundred varieties of the winged tribe have 

 been noted on this island, great and small. This remark 

 applies equally well to the whole stretch of the Northum- 

 brian coast with few exceptions from the Tyne to the 

 Tweed and Firth of Forth. 



For valuable aid in the compilation of this book I am 

 greatly indebted to the following gentlemen : 



(1) Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, Bart., President of 



the Wild Fowlers' Association. 



(2) Stanley Duncan, Esq., Hon. Secretary of the 



above Association. 



(3) Arthur Bonsall, Esq., Editor "Shooting Times." 



(4) R. Fortune, Esq., Fell. Zool. Soc., Harrogate, 

 all of whom have proffered descriptive notes and lent 

 illustrations. 



I am also indebted to A. H. Robinson, Esq., for his 

 excellent photos of the "Sunset on the Sands," &c.; and 

 to Mr. English, of Seahouses, for his charming Fame bird 

 pictures. 



