INTRODUCTION. 



have also to express my obligations to Mr. J. 

 Edmund Harting for much kindness shown in 

 connexion with this work. 



To Messrs. Bailey, of Flamborough, Richardson, 

 of Beverley, Adrian, of Lincoln, and Clayton, of 

 Louth, I am indebted for communications from 

 time to time of rare captures in their respective 

 neighbourhoods. 



My frontispiece is from a photograph, ad- 

 mirably rendered in wood by Mr. J. G. Keule- 

 mans, and engraved by Mr. Pearson, of three 

 birds shot at Flamborough in the autumn of 

 1868, and photographed shortly after in the flesh. 

 They are now in the collection of Mr. J. H. 

 Gurney, jun. 



In the Humber District I include the Humber 

 from the Spurn to its junction with the Trent and 

 Ouse, and the lands adjoining, namely part of 

 North and Mid Lincolnshire and Holderness, a 

 district enclosed to the north, the west, and 

 south by the curved sweep of the wold hills. 

 To the east its sea-board extends from Flam- 

 borough Head in the north to Skegness on 

 the Lincolnshire coast in the south. This is a 

 well defined and clearly marked province, both 

 geologically and zoologically. It may be com- 



