Vll. 



MR. E. T. BOOTH'S 



INTRODUCTION to the FIRST EDITION (1876). 



As a Catalogue does not need a Preface, I will simply 

 state, by way of introduction, that all scientific 

 arrangement has been given up as hopeless in a 

 collection where the chief object has been to endeavour 

 to represent the birds in situations somewhat similar 

 to those in which they were obtained; many of the 

 cases, indeed, being copied from sketches taken on the 

 actual spots where the birds themselves were shot. 



The few notes and facts I have recorded are solely 

 the result of personal observation, and with two or 

 three exceptions (all noted) not a book of reference has 

 been opened. 



Those who expect to find a long list of rarities will, I 

 am afraid, be sadly disappointed, as, in order to avoid 

 exhibiting or describing a specimen with which I was 

 only acquainted by hearsay, I have restricted the 

 collection entirely to birds that have fallen to my own 

 gun, during various excursions in the British Islands. 



