PREFACE. ix 



the courteous help and kindness we have received from 

 one and all. 



Almost at the last moment we obtained a number 

 of most interesting notes from Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie, 

 who was shooting during the autumn and winter of 

 1889, in Westray and Papa Westray. These, together 

 with the results of a birds'-nesting trip in May 1890, 

 will be found either incorporated into the body of the 

 work or in the Appendix ; and we are much obliged 

 to Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie for sending us, unsolicited, so 

 much valuable matter. 



We are again indebted to Mr. J. G. Millais for the 

 use of three of his beautiful sketches of Orkney locali- 

 ties, and we think the reproductions are worthy of all 

 praise. The picture of the view of Loch Stenness 

 should have special interest to the ornithologist, as it 

 and Harray are the only localities where the Wild 

 Swan is known or recorded to have bred in the 

 British Isles. 



For our title-page we have to thank Mr. Edwin 

 Alexander. 



Many of our illustrations have been copied from 

 photographs taken by Mr. Norrie, sometimes under cir- 

 cumstances the reverse of comfortable or convenient ; 



