INTRODUCTION. XV 



to Mr. Belfrage for many ornithological notes from 

 Muswell Hill. 



Several of the London taxidermists have sent 

 me various particulars relating to rare species 

 captured in this county and transmitted to them 

 for preservation ; and, whenever such captures 

 have heen previously recorded on such authority 

 as that of Messrs. Yarrell, Jenyns, or Gould, I 

 have noticed it in my text, generally in the author's 

 own words. 



I have gleaned some information from the pages 

 of ' The Zoologist,' and have thus heen enabled to 

 avail myself of the experience of Mr. Newman, 

 Mr. Mitford, Mr. H. Hussey, and other observant 

 naturalists in this county. 



As before stated, these notes are offered rather 

 as a contribution towards a Natural History of 

 the county than as a complete treatise. Should 

 they tend to awaken a taste for the study of Nature 

 in those who have hitherto been unobservant, or 

 induce those who already possess such tastes to 

 prosecute the study with renewed vigour, and 

 acquire fresh knowledge concerning our Fauna, 



