INTRODUCTION. 



IT was with considerable hesitation that I com- 

 menced this notice of the avifauna of the Hum- 

 ber District, from the fact that any attempt on 

 my part to supply a complete list of our birds 

 (resident, migratory, and occasional visitants) must 

 to some extent be a failure, not only from lack of 

 time and opportunity to become thoroughly ac- 

 quainted with the district, but also from having 

 had in a great measure to work alone and un- 

 aided by local ornithologists, of whom, I regret, 

 North Lincolnshire, compared with the neigh- 

 bouring counties of Yorkshire and Norfolk, is 

 singularly deficient. This deficiency of fellow 

 workers, however, has to some extent been 

 counterbalanced by an occupation requiring 

 almost constant daily outdoor supervision in all 

 seasons and in all weathers, thus affording most 



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