Vlll INTEODUCTION. 



of those who may wish to extend their orni- 

 thological inquiries in the county. In such cases 

 I have necessarily been compelled to depart from 

 my rule of abstaining from particular descrip- 

 tions. In noticing, also, such scarce birds as 

 the Spotted Sandpiper, Schinz' Sandpiper, and 

 Sabine's Gull, here for the first time recorded as 

 having occurred in Middlesex, with other rarities 

 (as the Little Kinged Plover) which have fallen 

 to my own gun, a particular description has been 

 given, when practicable, either because the birds 

 were obtained in a fresh state, or because the 

 description of the species as British by other 

 authors, has been taken from a limited number of 

 specimens. This seemed advisable, in order to con- 

 firm or add to such former descriptions. 



It frequently happens that we become aware of 

 the presence of a bird long before it is seen, merely 

 by its note. This is more especially the case with 

 the waders. In order to distinguish birds when at 

 a distance, we should be well acquainted not only 

 with their flight but also with their note ; and on 

 this account, wherever it has been practicable, I 

 have reduced the notes to a key by means of a 



