xiv PREFACE. 



me of several rare captures, and allowed me to 

 take notes from his finely coloured ' Birds of Great 

 Britain/ To Professor Newton, of Cambridge, I 

 am indebted for much kindly advice and useful 

 information ; and Mr. Dalziel Mackenzie, of Henley- 

 on-Thames, also deserves my thanks for a series of 

 notes on some of the rarer birds which have been 

 taken near Fawley, Medmenham, and other places 

 in his immediate neighbourhood. I have received 

 much information from local birdstuffers, but have 

 given credence only to such reports as seemed 

 thoroughly trustworthy. 



Lastly, I thank my subscribers for their support, 

 and trust that while they criticise the following 

 pages, they will extend that indulgence which is 

 naturally looked for by an author of sixteen. 



ALEXANDER W. M. CLARK KENNEDY. 



ETON COLLEGE, BUCKS, 

 March, 1 868. 



