8 PREFACE. 



field for his energies, especially among the mushrooms and 

 toadstools of a most fungiferous locality. 



In other branches of Physical History, however, the neigh- 

 bourhood has not been neglected ; the Geology has received the 

 careful attention of my friend and fellow- worker Mr. Charles 

 Candler, who has supplied many details for the present general 

 sketch, though he is unwilling to commit himself to any 

 theories therein contained ; to him also the reader is indebted 

 for the able and interesting observations on the Birds. The 

 Butterflies and Moths have been partially recorded by the late 

 Mr. James Muskett, by Mr. Candler and his brothers, and are 

 now being examined more completely and critically by the 

 Rev. C. T. Cruttwell, Rector of Denton, who has also com- 

 menced a record of the Beetles and Flies with a view to 

 publication at a future date. The Conchology has received the 

 attention of Mr. Edmund Candler, but as his list is at present 

 imperfect, it has been thought advisable to defer it. 



The lack of works of reference, which a country curacy 

 necessitated, has been amply supplied by the Libraries of the 

 British Museum and the Linnean Society, in which many of 

 the following details have been written and revised. But the 

 duties of a large London parish, "in the fields" by courtesy only, 

 have given little leisure ; I must, therefore, apologise for the 

 apparent brevity of certain portions of the work, and for any 

 editorial inaccuracies which have found place in it, notwith- 

 standing the careful scrutiny of my brother and Mr. Walter 

 Cordwell, who have kindly looked through the proof-sheets. 



As I draw my pleasant task to a close, I cannot but take 

 for my own the quaint words in which a kinsman of the last 

 century, John Galpine, has concluded his efforts in the same 

 branch of Natural History with him " disclaiming any merit 

 whatever on my part, further than endeavouring to promote 

 the cultivation of one' of the most innocent, rational, and 

 useful accomplishments.'' 



F. W. G. 



LONDON. 



S. Giles in the Fields, 

 Christmas, 1887. 



